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BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 

BY 

LAURA E. RICHARDS 


STORIES FOR LITTLE FOLKS 

Each one volume, cloth decorative, illustrated 


Five Minute Stories 


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More Five Minute Stories 


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Three Minute Stories 


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Five Mice in a Mouse Trap 


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Each one volume, cloth decorative, illustrated, 50 cents 


Captain January 

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Snow-white 


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“ Some Say ” 
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Isla Heron 


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THE HILDEGARDE SERIES 

Each one volume, cloth decorative, illustrated, $ 1.25 

Queen Hildegarde Hildegarde’s Neighbors 

Hildegarde’s Holiday Hildegarde’s Home 

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THE MARGARET SERIES 

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* * 




























IT IS A FINE BIG BOX, WITH THE SIDES RAISED SO THAT JOHNNY 
AND THE SAND WILL NOT FALL OUT.” (See page 1 .) 



















































































































































iHimttr 

fdortea 

By LAURA E. ‘RICHARDS 

Author of “ Five Minute Stories,” “ Five Mice in a Mouse 
Trap,” “ Captain January,” “ The Hildegarde Series,” 

“ The Margaret Series,” etc., etc. 



illustrated by JOSEPHINE H. BRUCE 


THE PAGE COMPANY 
BOSTON MDCCCCXIV 










COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY THE PAGE COMPANY 


All rights reserved 


First Impression, November, 1914 


THE COLONIAL PRESS 
C. H. SIMONDS CO., BOSTON, U. S. A. 

NOV 30 1914 

©CI.A387755 




TO 


40tj (£ranfori?il&mt. 


WITH MUCH LOVE 
































Many of these stories and rhymes appeared 
originally in the Ladies’ Home Journal , and were 
signed either with my initials, or with names of 
characters in my hooks. Others were adapted by 
me from the Indian “ Hitopadesa,” or “ Book of 
Good Counsel,” and from two anonymous story¬ 
books of a bygone generation, long out of print. 
These are marked “ Adapted.” L. E. R. 






9 



dmttntta 


Johnny and His Sand Box . 

Monos yllabics. 

The New Leaves. 

Grandmother’s Alphabet . 

The New Leaf. 

Mr. Hoppy Frog. 

• New Year’s Day in the Wood 
The News from Angel Land 
The Boastful Donkey .... 

The Cat’s Name. 

Suppity, Sippity!. 

Johnny’s Red Shoes and White Stockings 


1 

6 

10 

14 

20 

26 

28 

33 

37 

41 

44 

46 


IX 







X 


CONTENTS 


PAGES 

The Foolish Tortoise.53 

The Garden Gate.56 

Little Cat’s Valentine.59 

To My Valentine.65 

March.67 

Something New.69 

Mr. Sparrow’s Bath.70 

Little Girl.76 

How Mr. Peacock Went to the Fair ... 78 

Little Boy.83 

Faithful Trusty.85 

The Grateful Crane.88 

The King of the Fen.92 

The Swing.98 

* The Trees.100 

The Leprechaun.104 

The Deer and the Crow.109 

Little Goldstar.114 

The Broom.119 

The Clever Crows.121 

The John - Betty Table.125 

The Little Gray Doves.135 

Merry Christmas.138 

Christmas Gifts.142 

Church - bells.148 

The Bird of Light.151 









CONTENTS xi 

PAGE 

The Brothers and Sisters.153 

The Pigeons.155 

Pussy and Doggy.157 

Dick’s Family.159 
































u It is a fine big box, with the sides raised so that 
Johnny and the sand will not fall out.” (See 
page 1) . . . . . . Frontispiece 




“ They found Old Cat in the Barn sitting on a truss 

OF HAY, WASHING HERSELF ” . . . 22 - 

“ He held them up so that the Boy Oyer the Fence 

COULD SEE THEM ” . . . . 48 ^ 


“ Then she made two little stars and pasted them 

ON THE TIPS OF HIS EARS ” . . . . .62^ 

“ NOW HE GAVE HER ONE IN THE ROSY - POSY DISH ” . 71 ^ 

“ The battle was long and fierce on both sides ” . 96 

“ Twice one is two, we make our bow to you ” . 125 

a NoW THE DOORS WIDE OPEN THROW, THAT WE INTO 

148 


CHURCH MAY GO 














































































Utljm iluuttr i>tnroa 

JOHNNY AND HIS SAND BOX 

Johnny’s sand box is in the back yard. It 
is a fine big box, with the sides raised so that 
Johnny and the sand will not fall out. The sand 
is fine and dry, and almost white; it came from 
the seashore, and sometimes you find a little shell 
in it. 

The things that belong in the sand box (beside 
Johnny himself!) are the blue tin pail to hold sand, 
and the red tin pail to hold water, and the shovel, 
and the rake, and the old kitchen spoon. The 
things that do not belong there (some of them) 
are the woolly dog (because the sand gets all into 
his wool, and then shakes out on the nursery floor, 
and Maggie says it is a Sight!), and Johnny’s 

l 


2 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

shoes and stockings (he likes to take them off and 
sift the hot, clean sand between his bare toes), 
and the neighbors’ cats. 

This story is about the cats. There are five of 
them. One is black, and has a red leather collar 
with a little silver bell; it belongs to the deaf old 
lady next door, and its name is Jetty. Another 
is yellow, and belongs to the lame girl in the white 
house with green blinds; its name is Topaz. The 
third cat is gray, with white front and paws. This 
is a lady cat, and her name is Malta; she belongs 
to the lady whom Johnny calls Mrs. Nose. 
Mamma does not allow him to say this, and he 
tries to remember, but sometimes he forgets; one 
day he said right out, “ Good morning, Mrs. 
Nose! ” and she only laughed, and said her nose 
was just the right size, and she needed it all to 
smell catnip with. She is a funny lady, and 
Johnny likes her, and Malta too. 

The fourth cat belongs to Mr. Chops the butcher, 
and is a big tabby, with green eyes and fierce 


JOHNNY AND HIS SAND BOX 


3 


whiskers. Johnny does not like him at all. But 
the fifth cat is Muffet, his own dear white kitten. 

Now all these cats were friends except Bobs, 
the butcher’s cat. He lives on meat, and Mamma 
says perhaps that makes him cross. Anyhow, he 
is cross, and he growls and snarls and spits at Muf¬ 
fet and Jetty and Topaz and Malta, and tries to 
steal their fishbones, and upsets their milk, and 
is really a very horrid cat. 

The story happened one night last week. 
Johnny was asleep, and Maggie was tidying up 
the nursery before going to bed, when suddenly 
she heard a queer noise. It came from the yard, 
and she stepped to the window and looked out. 
It was bright moonlight; and what do you think'? 
The cats were having a party in the sand box! 
the four friendly cats, that is, Muffet and Topaz 
and Malta and Jetty. Maggie thought Muffet 
must have invited the others, for she was sitting 
in the middle of the box with her front paws 
tucked under her, looking so pleased and happy; 


4 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


and the three others had their paws tucked in 
too, and they were all four talking in little soft 
mews, and seemed to be having a very good time. 
Then all of a sudden there was a snarl and a yowl, 



and that horrid great Bobs 
sprang over the fence and into the sand . 

box, and began clawing and spitting and 
scratching right and left, just as hard as he could. 
At first the four friendly cats were too startled to 
do anything; but in another minute they began 
to spit and scratch and claw, and there were all 
five of them rolling over and over, scattering the 
sand on every side, and making such a noise that 













JOHNNY AND HIS SAND BOX 


5 


it woke Johnny out of his sound sleep. At first he 
was frightened, but Maggie told him what it was, 
and said wait and see what she would do. She 
pushed up the fly screen very softly, and then she 
brought the great big jug full of water, and lean¬ 
ing out,—splash! she emptied it full on the fight¬ 
ing, struggling cats. Oh! how they yelled! One 
jumped this way, and one jumped that; and the 
next moment not one was left except poor little 
Muffet, sitting in the middle of the box and cry¬ 
ing pitifully. “ Oh, poor Muffy! ” said Johnny. 
“ Poor Muffy all wet! ” So then good Maggie 
ran down and brought Mullet up, and dried her 
with a towel, and comforted her till she purred. 
Johnny wanted to take her into bed with him, 
but Maggie said that never would do; so,—what 
do you think? She put her in the doll’s cradle 
with Susan Dolly, and covered her up, and told 
her to go to sleep, and she did! 


MONOSYLLABICS 


The black cat sat 
In the fat man’s hat; 

“ Oh, dear! ” the fat man said. 
“ May the great gray bat 
Catch the bad black cat 
Who has left me no hat 
For my head! 99 



The big brown bear 
Tried to curl his hair 

To go to the Fair so gay. 
6 











MONOSYLLABICS 


7 


But lie looked such a fright 
That his aunt took flight, 

And he cried till night, they say. 


A pale pink pig, 

In a large blond wig, 

Danced a wild, wild jig 
On the lea; 

But a rude old goat, 

In a sky-blue coat, 

Said, “ You’re nought but a shoat, 
tee hee! ” 


A poor old King 

Sold his gay gold ring 

For to buy his old wife some cream; 

But the cat lapped it up 

With a sip and a sup, 

And his tears ran down in a stream. 


8 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


A large red cow 
Tried to make a bow, 

But did not know bow, 

They say. 

For her legs got mixed, 

And her borns got fixed, 
And ber tail would get 
In her way. 

A boy named Sam 
Had a fat pet ram, 

And gave him some jam 
For bis tea; 

But the fat pet ram 
Tried to butt poor Sam, 

Till be bad to turn 
And flee. 

A girl named Jane 
Had a sad, bad pain 
In the place where she wore 
Her belt; 


MONOSYLLABICS 


9 


She mopped and she mowed, 

And she screamed aloud, 

Just to show the crowd 
How she felt. 

A sad, thin ape 

Bought some wide white tape 
To trim a new cape 
For his niece; 

But a bold buff calf, 

With a loud, rude laugh, 

Bit off one whole half 
For his geese. 

A pert, proud hen 
Laid an egg, and then 
Said “ Cluck! ” and “ cluck! ” and 
“ cluck! ” 

Said the cock, “ Had I known 
You would take that tone, 

I would have wooed none 


But a duck! ” 


THE NEW LEAVES 


“ Wake up! ” said a clear little voice. Tommy 
woke, and sat up in bed. At the foot of the bed 
stood a boy about his own age, all dressed in white, 
like fresh snow. He had very bright eyes, and he 
looked straight at Tommy. 

“ Who are you? ” asked Tommy. 

“ I am the New Year! ” said the boy. “ This 
is my day, and I have brought you your leaves.” 

“ What leaves? ” asked Tommy. 

“ The new ones, to be sure! ” said the New 
Year. “ I hear bad accounts of you from my 
Daddy-” 

“ Who is your Daddy? ” asked Tommy. 

“ The Old Year, of course! ” said the boy. “ He 
said you asked too many questions and I see he 
was right. He says you are greedy, too, and that 

you sometimes pinch your little sister, and that 
10 


THE NEW LEAVES 11 

one day you threw your reader into the fire. Now, 
all this must stop.” 

“ Oh, must it? ” said Tommy. He felt fright¬ 
ened, and did not know just what to say. 

The boy nodded. “ If it does not stop,” he said, 
“ you will grow worse and worse every year, till 
you grow up into a Horrid Man. Do you want to 
be a Horrid Man? ” 

“ N-no! ” said Tommy. 

“ Then you must stop being a horrid boy! ” 
said the New Year. “ Take your leaves! ” and 
he held out a packet of what looked like copy¬ 
book leaves, all sparkling white, like his own 
clothes. 

“ Turn over one of these every day,” he said, 
“ and soon you will be a good boy instead of a 
horrid one.” 

Tommy took the leaves and looked at them. On 
each leaf a few words were written. On one it 
said, “ Help your mother! ” On another, “ Don’t 
pull the cat’s tail! ” On another, “ Don’t eat so 


12 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


much! ” And on still another, “ Don’t fight Billy 
Jenkins! ” 

“ Oh! ” cried Tommy. “ I have to fight Billy 
Jenkins! He said—” 

“ Good-by! ” said the New Year. “ I shall 
come again when I am old to see whether you have 
been a good boy or a horrid one. Remember, 

“ Horrid boy makes horrid man; 

You alone can change the plan.” 


He turned away and opened the window. A 


























THE NEW LEAVES 


13 


“ Tell me-” But the New Year was gone, and 
Tommy, staring after him, saw only his mother 
coming into the room. “ Dear child! ” she said. 
“ Why, the wind is blowing everything about. ” 
u My leaves! My leaves! ” cried Tommy; and 
jumping out of bed he looked all over the room, 
but he could not find one. 

“ Never mind,’’ said Tommy. “ I can turn 
them just the same, and I mean to. I will not 
grow into a Horrid Man.” And he didn’t. 


GRANDMOTHER’S ALPHABET 


The Ant is so busy 
It makes her quite dizzy, 
She says that her head 
Goes whirl-around-whizzy. 

The Bunny is funny; 

He cannot make honey, 
Nor write with a pen, 

Nor shoot with a gunny. 

The Cow is not able 
To sit at the table, 

And so we must send her 
To eat in the stable. 

The Duck goes a-quacking 
And clicking and clacking, 

14 



GRANDMOTHER’S ALPHABET 


And eats all she finds 
Prom beeswax to blacking. 


The Elephant mighty 
Can not find his nighty! 

It makes him feel nervous, 
And fractious and flighty. 



The Fish has no wish 
To be put in a dish, 

So he’s off like a flash 
With a swishety-swish. 

The Goose has no use 
For an Indian pappoose, 

So she looks at it sadly, 

And says, “ What’s the use? ” 

The Hen lays an egg, 

And stands on one leg, 

And says, “ Cut-ker-dah-cut! 
Observe me, I beg! ” 



16 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


The Ibis is pretty, 

But not very witty; 

And when he is tired 
He plays with the kitty. 

The Jaguar so cruel 
Was killed in a duel, 

And left his poor wife 
To eat nothing but gruel. 

The kind Kangaroo 
Has so little to do, 

That he talks to the Moolly 
And tries to say “ Moo! ” 

The Lizard goes sighing, 
And sobbing and crying, 
Because his poor tail 
Got shrunk in the dyeing. 

The Moose is all humpy, 
And grumpy and lumpy, 




GRANDMOTHER’S ALPHABET 


And if you say, “ Boo! ” 

He is off with a thumpy. 

The Newt has a neighbor 
Who fights with a sabre, 
And when he has conquered 
He beats on a tabor. 

The Owl and the Oyster 
Went off for a royster, 

And when they came back 
They were put in a cloister. 

The Pig bought a carrot 
To give to his parrot: 

But Poll was so frightened 
She hid in the garret. 

The Queen in her crown 
And velvety gown, 

She went to the circus, 

And laughed at the clown. 








18 THREE MINUTE 

The Ram and the Rattle- 
Snake had a great battle: 

For each called the other 
A tittlety-tattle. 

The Stork had a fancy 
To go to a dancy, 

But people said, “ No! 

You are rather too prancy! ” 

The timorous Tapir 
Was reading the paper, 

And found that his aunt 
Had married a draper. 

The Unicorn tried 
On a camel to ride, 

But there came a sad fall 
To himself and his pride. 

The Viper is vain, 

And cannot explain 


STORIES 



/ 




GRANDMOTHER’S ALPHABET 


Why people persist so 
In calling him plain. 

The Woodchuck is wealthy, 
And hearty and healthy: 

But sometimes his movements 
Are snooping and stealthy. 

The Xiphias perks his 
Head up to see Xerxes: 

And thinks him much finer 
Than Tartars or Turkses. 

The Yammering Yak 
Has spots on his back: 

He can’t get them oft, 

So he puts on a sacque. 

The Zebra with zeal 
Was cooking a meal: 

But he found it was onions 
And stopped with a squeal. 



• Vy • 


THE NEW LEAF 


u Why are you crying, Little Cat? ” asked Lit¬ 


tle Dog. 

“ Because my paws are so cold! ” said Little 



Cat. “ I have been digging in the snow and I can¬ 
not find one.” 

“ One what? ” asked Little Dog. 

“ One new leaf.” 

“ What do you want of a new leaf? ” 

“ I want to turn it over, but there just aren’t 
any to turn.” 

20 



THE NEW LEAF 


21 


“ Of course there aren’t! ” said Little Dog. “ It 
is winter.” 

“ But Little Girl is going to find one,” said Lit¬ 
tle Cat. “ I heard her mother say to her, i You 
really must turn over a new leaf! 9 and she said, 
‘ I truthfully will, Mamma! ’ and when Little Girl 
says she truthfully will she always does. Then 
her mother kissed her, and said everybody had to 
turn over new leaves now, and she had some of 
her own to turn, so she knew just how it was. The 
door shut then—on the tip of my tail, too—and I 
heard no more; but what do you suppose it 
means? ” 

Little Dog shook his head. “ We must ask 
somebody,” he said. “ Let me see! Great Old 
Dog is out for a walk, and Crosspatch Parrot bit 
me the last time I asked her a question.” 

“ I know,” said Little Cat. “ We will ask Old 
Cat in the Barn. She knows a good many things, 
and if she isn’t catching rats — but she generally 
is—she will tell us.” 


22 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


They found Old Cat in the Barn sitting on 
a truss of hay, washing herself. She listened 
to Little Cat’s story, and her green eyes 
twinkled. 

“ So you have been looking for new leaves 
under the snow! ” she said. 

“ Yes,” said Little Cat. “ First I looked on the 
trees, and there weren’t any there; so I thought 
it must be leaves of plants and things, so I 
scratched and dug till my poor paws were almost 
quite frozen, but not one single scrap of a leaf 
could I find.” 

“ Fffff! ” said Old Cat in the Barn. “ This 
barn is full of ’em! ” 

“ Full of leaves! ” cried Little Cat and Little 
Bog together. “ What can you mean, Old Cat? 
We don’t call hay leaves! ” 

“ How many rats have you caught this week? ” 
asked Old Cat, turning to Little Bog. 

“ None! ” said Little Bog. “ The last rat I 
caught bit me horridly; besides, they are odious, 





‘‘ THEY FOUND OLD CAT IN THE BARN SITTING ON A TRUSS OF 
HAY, WASHING HERSELF.” 
































































































































































































































































THE NEW LEAF 


23 


vulgar beasts, and I don’t care to have anything 
to do with them.” 

“ Fffff! ” said Old Cat. “ Little Cat, how many 
mice have you caught in the kitchen this week? ” 

Little Cat hung her head. “ I haven’t caught 
any,” she said. u I don’t care for mice, the flavor 
is too strong; I like cream better.” 

“ Ffffff! grrrr-yow! ” said Old Cat; her green 
eyes shot out sparks, and her fur began to stand 
up. “ Now, you two, listen to me! Why do you 
think the Big People keep you? Because you are 
soft and pretty and foolish? Not at all! They 
keep you because you are supposed to be useful. 
Your mother, Little Cat, was a hard-working, self- 
respecting mouser, who caught her daily mouse as 
regularly as she ate her daily bread and milk. 
Your father, Little Bog, hunted rats with me in 
this barn as long as he had legs to stand upon, and 
between us we kept the place in tolerable order. 
Great Old Dog cannot be expected to hunt at his 
age, and besides, he is too big; one might as well 


24 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


hunt with an ox. But since your parents died you 
two lazy children have done next to nothing, and 
what is the consequence? I am worked to skin 
and bone, and the mice are all over the house; I 
heard Cook say so. Mind what I say; no creature, 
with four legs or two, is worth his salt unless he 
earns it, in one way or another. Now, what have 
you to say for yourselves? ” 

“ Miaouw! ” said Little Cat. “ I am very sorry, 
Old Cat.” 

“ Yap! Yap! ” said Little Bog. “ I am sorry 
too, Old Cat.” 

“ Very well! ” said Old Cat in the Barn. “ Then 
turn over a new leaf! ” 

“ Miaouw! ” “ Yap! ” “ That is just what we 
want to do! ” said Little Cat and Little Bog to¬ 
gether; “ but we can’t find any.” 

“ The fact is,” said Old Cat in the Barn, “ it is 
one of the foolish ways of speaking that the Big 
People have. It just means, stop being bad and 
begin to be good. Now do you see? ” 


THE NEW LEAF 


25 


“ Prrr! ” said Little Cat; “ now I see. I will 
go and catch a mouse this minute, Old Cat.” 

“ Wuff! ” said Little Hog; “ I see, too, and I 
will come and hunt rats with you, Old Cat.” 

“ Prrrrrrr! 99 said Old Cat in the Bam. “ That 
is right! Go to work, like good children, and as 
I may have been rather short with you lately I will 
turn over a new leaf, too, and ask you both to 
supper with me in my hay-parlor. Cook gave me 
the bones of the Christmas goose, and we will have 
a great feast.” 


MR. HOPPY FROG 


Mr. Hoppy Frog 

Was very, very funny; 

Mr. Hoppy Frog 

He had not any money. 

So he could not buy 
A squeaky woolly dog; 

It made him sigh and sob and cry, 
Poor Mr. Hoppy Frog! 

Going down the lane, 

He met with Mistress Kitty; 

When she saw his pain, 

Her heart was filled with pity. 

“ Mr. Hoppy Frog, 

Oh! do not weep for that! 

To buy your woolly dog 
I’ll sell my Sunday hat.” 


26 


MR. HOPPY FROG 


27 



Bowing down before, 

Said Mr. Hoppy Frog, 

“ I love you even more 
Than squeaky woolly dog! 

Come to church with me, 

And wear your Sunday hat; 

And we’ll through life be Frog and wife, 
Sweet Mistress Kitty Cat! ” 



NEW YEAR’S DAY IN THE WOOD 


“ Do I look nice? ” asked the Rabbit. 

“ Very nice! ” said the Chipmunk; “ that is, 
for a person who has no tail to speak of. But, of 
course, you cannot help that.” 

The Rabbit looked into the looking-glass pond 
and saw his little white blob of a tail. “ Don’t you 
want to lend me yours, just this once? ” he asked. 
“ I would take great care of it! ” 

“ No, I cannot do that,” said the Chipmunk, 
“ but I can lend you the tail of my late uncle. It 
is such a fine one that we have kept it to brush out 
the nest with.” 

“ The very thing! ” said the Rabbit. 

So the Chipmunk brought the tail of his late 
uncle and tied it on to the Rabbit’s stub. 

“ How does that look? ” asked the Rabbit. 


28 


NEW YEAR’S DAY IN THE WOOD 29 

“ Fine! ” said the Chipmunk. u Now tell me 
how I look! ” 

“ Well enough! ” said the Rabbit. “ Of course, 
you would look better if you had long ears.” 

“ Dear me! ” said the Chipmunk; and he, too, 
looked into the looking-glass pond. “ Haven’t 
you a spare pair that you could lend me? ” 

“ Why, yes,” said the Rabbit. “ There is a pair 



that belonged to my grandfather, hanging on the 
wall at home. I will get those.” 


So the Rabbit got the ears and tied them on to 
the Chipmunk’s head. 

“ How do I look now? ” asked the Chipmunk. 
“ Splendid! ” said the Rabbit. “ Now let us go 



30 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


and make our New Year’s calls. Where shall we 
go first? ” 

“ I wish to call on Miss Woodchuck! ” said the 
Chipmunk. 

“ So do I,” said the Rabbit. “ We will go there 
first.” And off they went. 

They came to Miss Woodchuck’s door and 
knocked, and she opened the door. “ Mercy! ” 
she cried. “ Who are you, and what do you 
want? ” 

“ We are Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Chipmunk,” said 
the two friends, “ and we have come to make you 
a New Year’s call.” 

“ More likely you have come to steal the nuts! ” 
said the lady angrily. “ I know Mr. Rabbit and 
Mr. Chipmunk well, and neither of you is either 
of them. Who ever heard of a long-tailed rabbit 
or a long-eared squirrel? Get along with you! 
You are frights, and probably thieves as well.” 
And she shut the door in their faces. 

The two friends walked a little way in 


NEW YEAR’S DAY IN THE WOOD 31 

silence; then they stopped and looked at each 
other. 

“ You said I looked fine! ” said the Rabbit. 

“ I—I meant the tail! ” said the Chipmunk. 
“ It is a fine tail. But you said I looked splen¬ 
did! ” 

“ I was thinking of the ears! ” said the Rabbit. 
“ They are splendid ears/’ 

They walked on until they came once more to 
the looking-glass pond. They looked at them¬ 
selves; then they looked at each other; then, all 
in a minute, off came the long ears and tail. 

“ There! 99 cried the Chipmunk. “ Now we look 
as we were meant to look; and I am bound to say, 
Rabbit, that it is much more becoming to you.” 

“ So it is to you! 99 replied the Rabbit. “Now 
shall we call on Miss Woodchuck again? 99 

“ Come on! 99 said the Chipmunk. 

So they went to Miss Woodchuck’s house, and 
knocked once more at the door, and Miss Wood¬ 
chuck opened it. “ Oh! ” she cried. “ Mr. Chip- 


32 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


munk and Mr. Rabbit, how do you do? I am so 
glad to see you. A happy New Year to you both! ” 
“ The same to you, Ma’am! 99 said the Rabbit 
and the Chipmunk. 


THE NEWS FROM ANGEL LAND 


Oil! Harry Boy and Johnny Boy, 

And little Libbety, 

They were three happy children 
As ever you did see: 

One day there came another child; 

Oh! he was sweet and small! 

And round his cradle quickly came 
The other children all. 

“ Oh! what’s the news from Angel Land, 
Baby, Baby? 

We think we still might understand, 
Maybe, maybe! 

Daddies and Mammies long ago 
Forgot the things the babies know; 

We hardly think we could forget, 

And yet—and yet! ” 


33 


34 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 



Now Harry’s eyes were diamond dark, 
And John’s were starry blue, 

And little Libbety was like 
A rosebud dipped in dew. 

They stood around the cradle white, 
With rosy ribbons tied, 

They looked into the baby’s face 
And earnestly they cried: 





THE NEWS FROM ANGEL LAND 35 

“ Oh! what’s the news from Angel Land, 
Baby, Baby? 

We think we still might understand, 
Maybe, maybe! 

Daddies and Mammies long ago 
Forgot the things the babies know; 

We hardly think we could forget, 

And yet—and yet! ” 

The baby gravely met the look 
Of brown eyes and of blue: 

And gravely opened his baby mouth, 

And gravely said, “ A-Goo! ” 

Harry and Johnny shook their heads: 

“ That word’s too deep for me! ” 

“ I think I used to know it, though! ” 

Said little Libbety. 

“ But what’s the news from Angel Land, 
Baby, Baby? 

We think we still might understand, 
Maybe, maybe! 


36 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Daddies and Mammies long ago 
Forgot the things the babies know; 

We hardly think we could forget, 

And yet—and yet! ” 

The baby said “ A-Goo! ” again 
With meaning calm and deep: 

And then he said, “ Ba-be, ba-ba! ” 

And then he went to sleep. 

The children sighed and turned away: 

But none of all the three 
Guessed, neither John nor Harry Boy, 
Nor little Libbety, 

He had told the news from Angel Land, 
Baby, baby, 

He thought that they might understand, 
Maybe, maybe. 

Daddies and Mammies long ago 
Forgot the things the babies know: 

The children ought not to forget, 

And yet—and yet! 


THE BOASTFUL DONKEY 


(Adapted) 

Once upon a time there was a donkey who lived 
in a field where there was no pond; so he had 
never seen his own image, and he thought he was 
the biggest and strongest and handsomest crea¬ 
ture in the world. 

One day a lion came through the field, and, being 
a polite beast, stopped to greet the donkey. 
“ Good morning, friend! ” he said. “ What a fine 
day this is! ” 

“ Fine enough, I dare say! ” said the donkey. 
“ I never think about the weather. I have other 
things to think about.’’ 

“ Indeed! ” said the lion. “ May I ask what 
things? ” 

“ None of your business! ” said the donkey 
37 


38 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


rudely; and he set up a loud braying, thinking to 
frighten the lion away. 

“ Why do you bray? ” asked the lion. 

“ Bray! ” cried the donkey. “ That was not 
braying—it was roaring! ” 

“ If you think I don’t know braying from roar¬ 
ing,” said the lion, still politely, “ you are mis- 



donkey. “ If that was, this shall not be! ” and he 
uttered a long and loud “ Hee-haw! ” and kicked 
up his heels in angry pride. “ What do you call 
that? ” he asked proudly. 

“ I call it a bray,” replied the lion; “ and a very 
ugly one. You see, after all, you are a donkey; 
look at the length of your ears! ” 



THE BOASTFUL DONKEY 


39 


“ How dare you? ” cried the donkey. “ My 
ears are the finest in the world, everybody says 
so. And as for roaring, if I have not scared you 
yet, just listen to me now! ” And flinging up his 
heels again he bellowed till his own long ears tin¬ 
gled with the sound. 

He expected the lion to be terrified, but the lion 
merely smiled. 

“ You certainly can make a most hideous 
noise,” he said; “ but when all is said and done, 
it is only a bray. If you really wish to know 
how a roar sounds I shall be happy to oblige 
you.” 

The King of Beasts then began to lash his 
tail and pretended to fall into a great passion. 
His eyes flashed fire, his tawny mane bristled; 
he opened his great mouth, and a roar like 
thunder filled the air. The donkey, after one ter¬ 
rified look, took to his heels and scampered off as 
fast as he could go, tumbled into a ditch, and lay 
there all day, not daring to move for fear. 


40 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


The lion went on his way smiling. ‘ ‘ It 
is a pity,” he said, “ for a person to live 
in a place where he cannot see .what he looks 
like.” 


THE CAT’S NAME 

Tom had a cat who was so white that he named 
her Snow. He loved Snow and thought her the 
best cat in the world, but she would not come when 
she was called. 

One day Snow went and played in the coal-bin, 
and when she came out she was quite black. 

“ See, Mother,” said Tom: “ Snow cannot be 
Snow now, for she is black. What shall I name 
her? ” 

“ You might name her Soot! ” said his mother. 

So he named Snow Soot. Snow did not care, 
and Soot did not care, but neither of them came 
when she was called. 

One day Snow saw a tin pot on the shed floor, 
and Soot thought there might be cream in it; and 
Snow went to see, and Soot fell in, and it was 


41 


42 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

green paint, and when she came out she was all 


green. 

“ See, Mother,” said Tom. “ My cat is not 
white now, so she cannot be Snow, and she is not 
black, so she cannot be Soot. What shall I name 
her now? ” 

“ You might name her Grass,” said his mother, 



named the cat Grass. Snow did not care, and 
Soot did not care, and Grass did not care, but none 
of them came when they were called. 


“ How can I wash her,” asked Tom, “ if she will 
not come when she is called? ” 







THE CAT S NAME 


43 


“ Let me try! ” said his mother. So she called, 
“ Puss! Puss! Puss! ” and the cat came running 
as fast as she could. 

“ Why-ee! ” said Tom. “ I think her name 
must be Puss.” 

“ I think so, too,” said his mother. 


SUPPITY, SIPPITY! 


Suppity, sippity! 

Milk for my Pippity, 

Milk for my Pippity Poppity Boy: 
Prom a big jug of it 
Pour a full mug of it, 


Sip it and sup it in comfort and joy. 



44 


SUPPITY, SIPPITY! 


45 


Sippity, soppity, 

Bread for my Poppety, 

Crusty and crumby and tender and white: 
Now for a bowl of it! 

Milk for the whole of it! 

Sippity, suppity, morning and night. 


JOHNNY’S RED SHOES AND WHITE 
STOCKINGS 


For every day, Johnny always wears blue; blue 
rompers in the morning, when he is playing in the 
sand box or helping Maggie make bread in the 
kitchen, and a blue sailor suit in the afternoon, 
when he goes “ walk-a-walk-a ” with Mamma. 
But on Sunday afternoon he goes walk-a-walk-a 
with Daddy (but they take Mamma too!), and then 
he has on his white sailor suit, and his white stock¬ 
ings and red shoes. Aunt Kitty brought him the 
shoes, and when they came there was a china cat 
inside one, and a tin frog inside the other. They 
were surprises, the cat and the frog; Aunt Kitty 
likes to give surprises. 

Well! one Sunday morning Mamma and Daddy 
were going to church, and Maggie was very busy, 
so she put Johnny in the sand box, and told him 


46 


JOHNNY’S RED SHOES 47 

to play like a good boy, and be did. He made two 
forts, one with the red tin pail and one with the 


blue tin pail; and 
mered on them p; 
kitchen spoon and gj 
bang! bang!” 
battle. While 
battle, the 
Fence came 
through the 



then he ham- 
^with the old 
said, “Bang! 
and that made a 
he was having the 
Boy Over the 
and looked 
pickets, 


got new shoes 
looked, and he 
shoes, that tied in 
Johnny said 
new shoes too, only they are not on; they are up¬ 
stairs, and they are red.” 

“ They ain’t! ” said the Boy Over the Fence. 
He was not a very nice boy. 


,'i, hi/W"'- and 

said, 
“ Hurnh! I’ve 
on! ” Johnny 
had; new brown 
front. S o 
‘‘I have 



48 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


“ They are! ” said Johnny. “ Bright red, with 
wankle buttons. Aunt Kitty bringed them, and 
there was a cat in one, and a frog in the other, 
and they were s’prises. And white stockings too, 
so there} ” Then he stopped, for he was out of 
breath. 

“ Hurnh! ” said the Boy Over the Fence. 
“ Let’s see ’em! ” 

Johnny trotted up the back stairs and brought 
down the white stockings and the red shoes; they 
were laid out on the chair, with the white suit, all 
ready for him to put on. He held them up so that 
the Boy Over the Fence could see them, and said, 
“ So there! ” again; it was all he could think of 
to say. 

And the Boy Over the Fence said, “ Hurnh! ” 
again, as if that was all he could think of to say. 

Just then Maggie opened the kitchen door and 
said: “ Come in this minute of time, Johnny boy, 
and get your luncheon! see the nice cracker and 
the lovely mug of milk Maggie has for ye! ” 
















































































' 
























JOHNNY’S RED SHOES 49 

Johnny was hungry, and he dropped the red 
shoes and white stockings and ran in to have his 
luncheon. While he was eating it, Maggie told 
him the story of the Little Rid Hin; (Mamina says 
it is “ Red Hen,” really, but Maggie always says 
it the other way, and Johnny likes it better); and 
then she said it was time for his nap, and she 
whisked him up-stairs and tucked him up in his 
crib and told him to go to sleep like a good boy, 
and he went. 

By and by he woke up, and Mamma came in to 
dress him for dinner. She washed his face and 
hands, and brushed his hair, and put on his white 
sailor suit; and then she said, “ Why, where ever 
are the shoes and stockings'? ” 

She looked under the chair, and on the bureau, 
and under the bed. “ Johnny,” she said, “ I can¬ 
not find your red shoes and white stockings. I 
put them here with your suit, and now they are 
gone.” 

“ Oh! ” said Johnny. 


50 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


“ Do you know where they are, dear? ” asked 
Mamma. 

“ Oh! ” said Johnny again. “ I think — they 
are in—the sand box! ” 

“ In the sand box! ” said Mamma. 

“ The Boy Over the Fence said they wasn’t 
red,” said Johnny; “ and they was, and I 
gotted them and showed him, and then Maggie 
called me, and — and — I think that is all I 
know.” 

“ My goodness! ” said Mamma. And she ran 
down-stairs and out into the yard to the sand box. 
But no red shoes or white stockings were there. 
Mamma looked all about carefully. There was the 
red tin pail, and the blue tin pail, both turned 
upside down, and the old kitchen spoon laid across 
them. And there were the marks of Johnny’s 
moccasins, and—oh! there were the marks of an¬ 
other pair of shoes, a little bigger than Johnny’s, 
with heels to them. 

“ My goodness! ” said Mamma. “You don’t 


JOHNNY’S RED SHOES 


51 


suppose— ” but she did not say what you didn’t 
suppose. 

She looked over toward the next yard. There 
was no one there, but there were muddy footmarks 
leading from the fence to the sand box, and sandy 
footmarks leading back from the sand box to the 
fence. 

“ Now,” said Mamma, “ I am afraid—” but she 
did not say what she was afraid of. 

Just as she was stepping out of the sand box, 
her foot struck against the red tin pail and 
knocked it over; and—what do you think? In¬ 
side of the pail was one red shoe and one white 
stocking. 

“ My goodness! ” said Mamma again. Then 
she turned over the blue tin pail, and there was 
the other red shoe and the other white stocking. 

Mamma looked very severely over the fence, but 
no one was there; so she took the shoes and stock¬ 
ings up-stairs and showed them to Johnny. 
“ Oh! ” said Johnny. 


52 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


She told him where she had found them; and 
then she put them away in the drawer, and 
brought out Johnny’s old brown moccasins and a 
pair of rather old brown stockings. “ You shall 
wear these to-day! ” said Mamma. 

“ But why? ” said Johnny. “ I like my red 
shoes and white stockings best.” 

4 4 But you took them out and left them in the 
sand box! ” said Mamma. 

“ But I did forget! ” said Johnny. 

“ But this will help you to remember! ” said 
Mamma. 

And it did. 


THE FOOLISH TORTOISE 


(Adapted) 

Close beside the Pool of the Blue Lotus lived 
the two geese White-Wings and Gray-Back, and 
in the pool lived the tortoise Shelly-Neck, and 
the three were good friends. One night Shelly- 
Neck heard two fishermen talking together beside 
the pool. “ To-morrow morning/ ’ they said, “ we 
will lay our nets and catch that old tortoise and 
cook him for our dinner.” 

Shelly-Neck was much frightened, and when the 
men were gone he called his friends the geese, and 
begged them to save him. 

“ We will save you,” said White-Wings. 

“ But you must do just what we tell you to do! ” 
said Gray-Back. 

“ I will! I will! ” cried poor Shelly-Neck. 

The two geese waddled about, looking till they 

53 


54 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

found a stick. “ Now,” said White-Wings, “ take 
this in your mouth and hold on tight! ” 

“ And remember,” said Gray-Back, “ that once 
you have taken hold you must not let go till we 
bid you.” 

The tortoise promised and took hold on the mid¬ 



dle of the stick with his strong jaws. Then White- 
Wings took one end of the stick in his bill and 
Gray-Back took the other, and they flew high up 
in the air over the roofs of the houses. 

All the people came running to see this strange 
sight. “ Look! look! ” cried one. “ See the fly¬ 
ing tortoise! ” 

“ Ho! ” said another, who was one of the fisher- 




THE FOOLISH TORTOISE 55 

men. “ He has no wings; soon he will forget and 
open his mouth, and then down he will come and 
we shall have him for dinner.” 

“ I will not let go! You shall not have me for 
dinner! ” cried Shelly-Neck. 

Crash! Down he fell on the hard ground. When 
the fishermen picked him up he was dead and they 
did have him for dinner. 

White-Wings and Gray-Back flew sadly away. 
“ We did our best,” they said; “ but a fool can¬ 


not be saved from his folly.” 


THE GARDEN GATE 


Early and late, early and late, 

Little Boy swings on the garden gate. 

“ It isn’t a gate; it’s a motor car! 

I’m travelling fast and I’m travelling far. 
I toot my horn and I turn my wheel, 

And nobody knows how grand I feel! ” 


Early and late, early and late, 

Little Boy swings on the garden gate. 


“ It isn’t a gate; it’s a great big ship! 

I’m off to the Pole on a ’sploring trip. 

I’ll ride a white bear, holding on by his hair, 
And I’ll hurry him up with a whaleskin whip.” 

56 


THE GARDEN GATE 


57 


Early and late, early and late, 

Little Boy swings on the garden gate. 

“ It isn’t a gate; it’s a big balloon! 
I’m going to sail till I reach the moon. 



I’ll play with the Man as hard as I can, 

And I’ll stir up the stars with a great horn 
spoon.” 

Early and late, early and late, 

Little Boy swings on the garden gate. 




















58 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


“ It isn’t a gate; it’s— ” off runs he, 

His mother is calling, “ Come in to tea! 99 
It’s a wonderful gate, but it just isn’t able 
To turn itself into a supper-table. 


LITTLE CAT’S VALENTINE 


Great Old Dog was taking a nap before the par¬ 
lor fire. He lay stretched out on the white bear 
skin, and reached almost from end to end, for he 
was a very great old dog indeed. By-and-by he 
woke up, and saw Little Dog sitting in front of 
him looking very melancholy. 



Old Dog. “ Where’s Little Cat?” 

“ I don’t know! ” said Little Dog dolefully. 
“ We don’t speak to each other any more.” 

“ Wuff! ” said Great Old Dog. “ Since when? ” 



60 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


“ Since half an hour.” 

“ Wuff! ” said Great Old Dog. “Why?” 

“ She was horrid to me,” said Little Dog, 
“ about a bone; and—and then I was horrid to 
her.” 

“ And you think two wrongs make a right? ” 
said Great Old Dog. . “ They don’t. That is 
monkey arithmetic, not fit for respectable dogs 
and cats. My advice to you is to make it up as 
soon as you can.” 

“ But she says she will never speak to me 
again! ” said Little Dog piteously. 

Great Old Dog yawned so wide that Little Dog 
could have got inside his mouth and turned 
around. 

“ She will! ” he said. 

“ How do you know, Great Old Dog? ” 

“Wuff! I know cats.” 

“ I think she has gone out to see Old Cat in the 
Barn,” Little Dog continued. “ Perhaps she may 
live out there and never come back.” 


LITTLE CAT’S VALENTINE 


61 


“ She’ll come back,” said Great Old Dog. “ She 
will miss you just as much as you miss her. Make 
it up, I tell you! Quarrelling is the silliest thing 
there is,” and he went to sleep again. 

“ Oh, dear! ” said Little Dog. “ I do miss Little 
Cat dreadfully, and the door is shut. Oh, oh 
dear! ” 

Little Girl was sitting at the desk, doing things 
with gold and silver paper. Little Dog went up 
to her and asked very prettily to be let out; but 
Little Girl was not so clever as usual. 

“ What is the matter, Little Dog? ” she asked. 
“ Do you want a valentine? ” 

“ Please let me out! ” said Little Dog; but she 
thought he said “ Yap! ” 

“ Listen, Little Dog! ” she said. “ Will this 
do? ” She took up a frilled sheet with gold 
hearts on it and read: 

“ ‘ If your heart is true as mine, 

Come and be my valentine.’ ” 


62 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


“ Please let me out! ” said Little Hog; but she 
thought he said “ Yap! ” 
u This is Valentine’s Hay, Little Hog,” Little 
Girl went on. “ You ought to send a valentine to 
Little Cat. 

“ ‘ If your heart is true as mine, 

Come and be my valentine.’ 

Why, Little Hog, you shall be her valentine. Come 
here, sir! ” 

Little Girl took a sheet of lace paper, crimped 
it into a frill, and tucked it into Little Hog’s col¬ 
lar. It tickled him woefully, but he said not a 
word, for he loved Little Girl almost next to Little 
Cat. 

“ You are lovely, Little Hog! ” said Little Girl. 
“ You are the best valentine I have made yet. 
Wait now! ” She made a big star of gold paper 
and pinned it to his collar; then she made two 
little stars and pasted them on the tips of his ears. 



THEN SHE MADE TWO LITTLE STARS AND PASTED THEM ON THE 

TIPS OF HIS EARS.” 


















































































































































LITTLE CAT’S VALENTINE 


63 


“ You are a lovely valentine! ” she cried, clap¬ 
ping her hands. “ And there is Little Cat mew¬ 
ing to be let in this minute. Now when I open 
the door, Little Dog, go straight up to her and 
say: 

“ ‘ If your heart is true as mine, 

Let me be your valentine! ’ ” 

She opened the door and Little Cat started to 
come in, but when she saw Little Dog she stopped 
and looked shy. 

Little Dog went up to her and said: 

“ If your heart is true as mine, Little Cat, I am 
sorry I was horrid about the bone; let me be your 
valentine and I want to make up.” 

“ Oh! Little Dog,” said Little Cat, “ I was hor¬ 
rid first, and I was just coming to say I was sorry. 
Let’s never quarrel again, Little Dog; it is so 
lonely! ” 

“ Dear little things! ” said Little Girl. “ They 


64 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


are rubbing noses and telling each other some¬ 
thing. Oh, dear! and I was cross to Brother this 
morning; I’m going to find him this minute and 
say I am sorry and ask him to be my valentine.” 


TO MY VALENTINE 


Dear, will you be mine, 

My little Valentine? 

I’ll meet you, and greet you, 
And dress you up so fine! 



A cooky for your bat, 

And a pancake for your coat; 
We’ll hollow out a pumpkin shell 
And use it for a boat. 


65 







66 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

Dear, will you be mine, 

My little Valentine? 

I’ll meet you, and treat you, 

And take you out to dine. 

We’ll have gold and silver fish 
In a gold and silver dish. 

We’ll serve them up with diamond sauce 
And then how they will shine! 


MARCH 


Blow, March, blow! 
Go, Winter, go! 
Drive away, 
Strive away, 
Blow, March, blow! 



Blow, March, blow! 
Grow, grass, grow! 
Crocus-cup, 
Twinkle up; 
Blow, March, blow! 


68 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Blow, March, blow! 
Plow, water, flow! 
River, run, 

Just for fun, 
Blow, March, blow! 


SOMETHING NEW 


There’s a new thing at our house: 
It’s not a cat; it’s not a mouse; 
It’s not a bird; it’s not a dog; 



It’s not a monkey or a frog; 

A sweeter thing than any other; 
It’s just a little Baby Brother! 

69 





MR. SPARROW’S BATH 


One day Johnny followed Mamma up into the 
attic, where there are all kinds of pleasant things, 
and he saw a very pleasant thing indeed. It was 
a small dish, white with pink roses all over it; 
really and truly, it was the prettiest dish that ever 
was. Johnny said , 6 6 O-o-oh! may I have that dish 
for mine*? ” 

Mamma looked, and then she took the dish in 
her hand and thought a minute. Mamma always 
likes to be sure about things before she says 
“ Yes! ” for fear it might not really be “ yes ” 
after all. But now she nodded her head, and said, 
“ Yes, Johnny, you may have it.” 

“ O-oh! ” said Johnny. “ For my welly own? ” 

“ For your very own. The rest of the set is 
broken, and I have just kept this dish because it 

70 



u 




NOW HE GAVE HER ONE IN THE ROSY-POSY DISH 





























































































MR. SPARROW’S BATH 


71 


is so pretty. Now you may take it down into 
the nursery, and have it for a bath for Flora.” 

Flora was a small doll, all china, and her clothes 
came off, so she could have a bath any time, and 
Johnny often gave her one. Now he gave her one 
in the rosy-posy dish, and it was just exactly the 
right size, and Johnny was so pleased, and said, 
“ Oh, thank you, dear Mamma! ” without having 
to be told. (Sometimes he forgets to say “ thank 
you,” but he is getting to be quite good about it.) 

The next time Johnny went down-stairs, he took 
the doll’s bath to show to Maggie, and she said 
’twas the pick of the world for a dish, and asked 
Johuny to lave her bake a cake in it; but Johnny 
said no, not now, though perhaps by and by, for 
now he must take it out to show to Muffy. Muffet 
was out in the sand-box, and when Johnny showed 
her the dish she mewed and rubbed against his 
legs, and seemed to want something very much. 

“ Maggie,” said Johnny, “ Muffy wants some¬ 
thing! What do you suppose it is? ” 


72 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

“ Sure she might be wanting a sup o’ milk! ” 
said Maggie. ‘‘ Bring me here the grand dish and 
we’ll give the crature a sup in itself, and won’t 
she be the proud kitty! ” that is the way Maggie 
talks; it is a nice, funny way, Johnny thinks. 

Well! so Maggie filled the pretty dish with milk, 
and Johnny set it down in the sand box before 
Mullet, and she lapped it up, every single drop, 
purring all the time. Johnny was watching her 
when Mamma called him in to take his nap. Muf- 
fet had not quite finished, so he left the dish stand¬ 
ing, and ran in to Mamma, and then he went for 
his nap. When he woke up it was raining hard, 
and it rained all the afternoon, so he did not go 
out again, but stayed in the nursery building a 
Choo Choo House. The next morning was bright 
and clear, and the very first thing Johnny thought 
of, when he had had his bath, and Mamma was 
dressing him, was the rosy posy dish. 

“ I wants my diss,” said Johnny, “ to give 


Flora her bath! ” 


MR. SPARROW’S BATH 


73 


So Mamma looked for the dish, all over the 
nursery, but it was not to be found. 

“ Where did you leave it, Johnny Boy? ” said 
Mamma. 66 Think a minute! ” 

So Johnny thought a minute, and then he re¬ 
membered. “ I left it in the sand box,” he said. 
“ Muffy was very thirsty, and she was drinking 
out of it, and you called me, and she hadn’t fin¬ 
ished, and so, you see—and so, you see—” 

And Mamma said she saw. Then she looked out 
of the window, and said yes, there was the dish, 
right in the sand box, beside the red tin pail and 
the blue tin pail and the old kitchen spoon. Then 
she said, “ Oh! oh, Johnny, come here and look! ” 
So Johnny went to the window, and stood on 
his tippy-toe-toes, and looked; and what do you 
think he saw? A little brown sparrow had come 
fluttering down, and was drinking out of the rosy 
posy dish. (You see, it had rained all night, so 
the dish was full of water.) He perched on the 
edge, and dipped his little beak in, and drank and 


74 THREE MINUTE STORIES 


drank; lie must have been very thirsty. And then 
—oh! oh! what did he do but hop down into the 
dish, and begin taking his bath! He splashed, and 
he shook himself, and rustled his feathers, and 
then he splashed again. “ Oh! ” said Johnny. 



“ Oh! Mamma, he is doing it all himself. Nobody 
told him to, not one bit.” 

“ No, indeed! ” said Mamma. “ He likes to 
take his bath and be clean, just as Johnny does. 
He knows it feels good to be clean.” 

“ Mamma! ” said Johnny. “ I want to tell you 
something. Shall we have something else for 





MR. SPARROW’S BATH 


75 


Flora, and let the rosy posy dish be the sparrow’s 
bath, his ownty donty ? ” 

“ Suppose we do! ” said Mamma. And they 
did. 


LITTLE GIRL 


When Little Girl wakes in the morning gay 
Then everybody is glad; 

The cat in the kitchen sits purring away, 

And the puppy dog barks like mad. 

The bell in the steeple turns head over heels, 
That’s his way of showing how glad he feels 

And all the wide world seems to say, 

“ Our dear Little Girl is happy to-day! ” 

When Little Girl wakes in the morning sad, 
Then everybody must mourn; 

The little birds sigh, and the big birds cry, 
And the scarecrow sobs in the corn. 

The fishes all pull their hankies out, 

And go and weep with the poor hornpout, 

And the clock says, “ Tock! I’m sorry to say 
Our dear Little Girl is sad to-day! ” 


LITTLE GIRL 77 

So, Little Girl, when you go beddy at night, 
Put a smile right under your pillow, 

And when you wake up, just slip it on tight, 
And wear it all day with a will, oh! 



Then the sun will shine and the wind will blow, 
And the bells will ring, “ Ho! ho! ho! ho! ” 
For in all the wide world there’s naught can be 
So sweet as a happy child to see! 



HOW MR. PEACOCK WENT TO THE FAIR 


(Adapted) 

Mr. Peacock was proud. He had a fine long 
train, a splendid crest, and the gayest blue-green 
coat that ever was seen; and all day long he would 
strut up and down the barnyard and say: “ See 
what a beauty I am! ” 



The geese and ducks and turkeys were much 
displeased at this. “ Beauty, indeed! ” they said. 
“ Of what use is your beauty? Can it hatch eggs? 

78 



MR. PEACOCK WENT TO THE FAIR 79 

Tell us that! ” and they turned their backs and 
walked away. 

“ These are stupid creatures! ” said Mr. Pea¬ 
cock. “ Why should I stay among them? I will 
go to the Fair, for there people will see my beauty 
and admire it.” 

So he spread his tail like a fan, raised his crested 
head and strutted off down the road to the Fair. 
Pretty soon he met some young men who also 
were going to the Fair. “ Aha! ” said Mr. Pea¬ 
cock. “ These people will admire me! ” and he 
strutted more than ever. 

“ Look! ” said the young men. “ What a fine 
peacock, and what splendid feathers he has! They 
are just what we want for our hats.” They sur¬ 
rounded Mr. Peacock, and, spite of his screams 
of rage and terror, tore out three or four of his 
finest tail feathers and went away laughing. 
Presently he fell in with a large flock of geese 
which a boy was driving to the Fair to sell. He 
spread his tail and tried to push his way to the 


80 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

head of the flock, but they took no notice of him 
and waddled steadily on, keeping close together. 

u Make way, you stupid creatures! ” said Mr. 
Peacock. “ Keep your dirty feet off my fine 
train! ” 

u Quack! ” said an old gray goose, the grand¬ 
mother of the flock. “ Keep your train out from 
under our feet, Mr. Strut! Who asked you to join 
our company*? ” 

“ Join your company, indeed! ” cried Mr. Pea¬ 
cock. “ Get out of my way, you rude, clumsy 
thing, and learn how to treat your betters! 99 and 
he gave the goose a hard peck. 

When the other geese, who loved their grand¬ 
mother, saw this, they all fell upon Mr. Peacock 
and beat and pecked and hustled him till he 
ran screaming away, dragging his tail behind 
him. 

He was now in a sad way, covered with dust, 
and many of his finest feathers were torn and 
broken; but. still, when he came to the Fair he 


MR. PEACOCK WENT TO THE FAIR 81 

spread his tail, reared his crest and made as much 
of himself as he could. 

“ I am still handsomer than any one else! ” he 
said, “ and people will be sure to admire me.” 

“ Look there! ” said a man. “ There is a pea¬ 
cock. Let us kill and stuff him and add him to our 
show.” And he chased Mr. Peacock, who ran off 
screaming with terror. Coming around a corner 
he ran into a large dog who was coming the other 
way. 

u Get out of my way! ” screamed Mr. Peacock. 

“ Get out of mine! ” growled Mr. Dog, and he 
grabbed Mr. Peacock by the neck, shook him hard 
and tore out a great mouthful of feathers. 

More dead than alive, the poor Peacock ran 
and ran and ran, and never stopped till he got 
home. 

The geese and turkeys looked at him in great 
surprise. “ Who is this wretched, shabby bird? ” 
they asked each other. “ It cannot possibly be 
Mr. Peacock? ” 


82 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


“ Yes,” sobbed the poor creature, “ it is I; but 
I have left my pride behind. If you will only let 
me stay with you I will do my best to hatch eggs.” 
But he never could. 


LITTLE BOY 


Mother, the hen is cackling; 

What is she trying to say? 

She says, “ Cluck! cluck! I humbly beg 
To tell you all I’ve laid an egg 
For Little Boy to-day! ” 

Oh! oh! is it so? 

Truly now, I did not know! 

But in return what shall I give ? 

“ Be kind, be kind, to all that live! ” 

Mother, the cow is lowing; 

What is she trying to say? 

“ Milk and cream and butter and cheese, 
Good people, I have brought you these 
For Little Boy to-day.’’ 

Oh! oh! is it so? 

Truly now, I did not know! 

But in return what shall I give? 

“ Be kind, be kind, to all that live.” 


84 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Mother, the sheep is bleating; 

What is she trying to say? 

She says “ I’ll give my fleecy wool 
To make warm clothes for play and school 
For Little Boy to-day.” 

Oh! oh! is it so? 

Truly now, I did not know! 

But in return what shall I give? 

“ Be kind, be kind, to all that live.” 



FAITHFUL TRUSTY 


(Adapted) 

“ Where are you going in such haste, friend? ” 
said Trusty, the shepherd’s Dog, to a great wolf 
that was jogging along the same road. 

u If I were sure you would not betray my se¬ 
cret,” said the Wolf, with a sly leer, “ I would let 
you know.” 

“ You need not fear me; I shall tell no one a 
word of the matter,” said Trusty. 

“ Well, then,” said the Wolf, “ you must know, 
as I was prowling around yonder cottage I saw 
the farmer’s wife put a fine baby into the cradle, 
and heard her say: 4 Lie still, my darling, and go 
to sleep, while I run down to the village to buy 
bread for your father’s supper.’ As soon as the 
babe is asleep I shall go and fetch it: it is fair 

85 


86 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

and fat, and will make a nice supper for me and 
my cubs.” 

“ Then,” said Trusty, “ I would advise you to 
wait a little longer, for I saw the baby’s mother 
step into the next house to speak to a neighbor: 
take care lest you are seen.” 



The Wolf thanked the Dog for his good advice, 
for he did not know that the baby belonged to 
Trusty’s master; and he said he would take heed 
and keep close. 

Then Trusty ran home with all the speed he 
could. The door was ajar, and the innocent baby 
was fast asleep in the cradle; so he lay down on 














FAITHFUL TRUSTY 


87 


the mat behind the door and listened for the com¬ 
ing of the Wolf. It was not long before he heard 
the tread of the Wolf’s feet on the gravel path, 
and in another minute the savage beast was in 
the room and stealing with cautions steps to the 
cradle; but just as he was preparing to seize the 
poor baby Trusty sprang upon him and after a 
fierce struggle laid him dead on the floor. 

The first thing the mother saw on her return 
was the Wolf dead at the foot of the cradle, while 
the baby, unhurt, lay soundly sleeping on 
his little pillow, and faithful Trusty watching 
beside him. She flew to look the little one 
all over, to make sure that he was safe and 
sound, and then, oh! how she patted and fondled 
the good Dog who had saved her darling’s life! 
She called in all the neighbors, and told them what 
Trusty had done, and from that time he became 
the pet of the whole village, and all the mothers 
wished they had such a dog to watch over their 
children. 


THE GRATEFUL CRANE 


(Adapted) 

Once a poor Crane was caught in a net, and 
could not get out. She fluttered and flapped her 
wings, hut it was of no use, she was held fast. 

“ Oh! ” she cried, “ what will become of me if 
I cannot break this net? The hunter will come 
and kill me, or else I shall die of hunger, and if 
I die who will care for my poor little young ones 
in the nest? They must perish also if I do not 
come back to feed them.” 

Now Trusty (the same Trusty who saved the 
baby’s life) was in the next field and heard the 
poor Crane’s cries. He jumped over the fence, 
and seizing the net in his teeth quickly tore it in 
pieces. “ There! ” he said. “ Now fly back to 
your young ones, ma’am, and good luck to you 
all! ” 


88 


THE GRATEFUL CRANE 89 

The Crane thanked him a thousand times. “ I 
wish all dogs were like you! ” she said. “ And I 
wish I could do something to help you, as you have 
helped me.” 


“Who knows? ” said Trusty. “Some day I 



“ To do a kind deed wherever we can, 
Is good for bird and beast and man.” 


Then Trusty went back to mind his master’s 
sheep, and Mrs. Crane flew to her nest and fed and 
tended her crane babies. 





90 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Some time after this she was flying homeward 
and stopped at a clear pool to drink. As she did 
so she heard a sad, moaning sound, and looking 
about, whom should she see but good Trusty, lying 
on the ground, almost at the point of death. She 
flew to him. “ Oh, my good, kind friend/ * she 
cried, “ what has happened to you? ” 

“ A bone has stuck in my throat/’ said the Dog, 
“ and I am choking to death.’’ 

u Now, thank Heaven for my long bill! ” said 
Mrs. Crane. “ Open your mouth, good friend, and 
let me see what I can do.” 

Trusty opened his mouth wide; the Crane 
darted in her long, slender bill, and with a few 
good tugs loosened the bone and finally got it out. 

“ Oh! you kind, friendly bird! ” cried the Dog, 
as he sprang to his feet and capered joyfully 
about. “ How shall I ever reward you for saving 
my life? ” 

“ Did you not save mine first? ” said Mrs. 
Crane. “ Shake paws and claws, friend Trusty! 


THE GRATEFUL CRANE 


91 


I have only learned your mother’s lesson, which 
you taught me, that 


u To do a kind deed wherever we can, 
Is good for bird and beast and man.” 


THE KING OF THE FEN 


(Adapted) 

“ I will be King of the Fen! ” said Croaker the 
Frog, leaping out of the brook upon the dry land. 

“ You King, indeed! ” said Slyboots, a fine, fat 
Field Mouse with a long tail and bright eyes, 
jumping out of his hole at the foot of a hazel bush 



which grew near. “ I am larger than you, and I 
will be King, and the frogs shall be my subjects 
and cut rushes and bring me dry moss to line my 
nest.” And Slyboots strutted about and gave 
himself a great many airs. 


92 









THE KING OF THE FEN 


93 


“ I will never consent to be ruled by a Mouse/’ 
replied the Frog with a disdainful air. “ How 
finely King Slyboots would sound! ” 

“ Quite as well as King Croaker! ” retorted the 
Mouse. 

Then the Frog flew into a great passion and 
hopped so high and croaked so loud that the Mouse 
crept a little farther from him (for frogs, like chil¬ 
dren, look very ugly when they are out of tem¬ 
per) ; and Slyboots did not much like the idea of 
being touched by his cold paws, and he said to him¬ 
self: “ In spite of this Frog’s looking so fierce and 
talking so loud I should not wonder if he were a 
coward at heart.” 

So he turned to the Frog and said: 44 As we 
both wish to be King of the Fen I know of no way 
of ending the dispute but by fighting, and the one 
that wins the fight shall be King over the other.” 

Then the Frog said: “ Very well! We will each 
bring a friend to see fair play. To-morrow at 
twelve o’clock I shall be ready to take the field; 


94 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

and if you fail to meet me here I shall be King of 
the Fen, and the mice shall be my servants.” For 
Croaker thought Slyboots was braver in word than 
in deed, as cowards are often the foremost to talk 
of fighting. 

Then the Frog retired among the bulrushes and 
the Mouse ran home to his hole under the nut tree. 

The two rivals awoke next morning by break of 
day to prepare for the combat, which was to take 
place at noon. The Frog was very much afraid of 
Slyboots’s sharp teeth and claws, so he fell to 
work and made a shield from the bark of an old 
willow tree, and then he plucked a long bulrush 
for a spear. “ Now,” said he, “ I am well armed: 
I have a shield to defend myself and a spear to at¬ 
tack the enemy with. If I had but a brave friend 
to be my second in the fight I should do very 
well.” 

“ I will be your second,” said a great Pike, rais¬ 
ing his head above the water; “ I will lie close to 
the bank among these rushes, and if you break 


THE KING OF THE FEN 95 

your spear come to me and I will procure you 
another.” 

The Frog was well pleased at this offer. “ I 
shall beat Slyboots in a little time,” said he, “ with 
such weapons and so good a friend.” 

Slyboots in the meantime was not idle; he sharp¬ 
ened his teeth and his claws and chose a light twig 
from the hazel bush and said: “ I only want now 
a friend to be my second and see fair play.” A 
great Hawk, which was hovering near, said: “ Mr. 
Slyboots, you may command my services at any 
hour you please to name.” 

Now Slyboots was somewhat afraid of the 
Hawk, for he thought he had rather a hungry look 
about the eyes and beak, but he dared not refuse 
his offer lest he should give offence; so he thanked 
him for his kindness, and at the appointed hour 
they went to the spot where the Frog was waiting 
for them. The Pike lay in the hole among the 
rushes and the Hawk sat on the bough of a tree 
close by. 


96 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

The Frog and the Mouse looked at one another 
for a few minutes and shook their weapons. At 
last the Hawk and the Pike gave signal for the 
fight to begin. The battle was long and fierce on 
both sides, and for some time it was doubtful 
which would win. At last the Frog seemed to 
gain ground, but at the very minute that he 
seemed to be winning his spear broke in 
pieces. 

“ Alas! ” croaked he in a tone of dismay, “ what 
shall I do? Who will give me another 
weapon? ” 

“ Here is one,” cried his friend, the Pike, from 
among the rushes. 

The Frog gave a leap of joy and sprang toward 
the Pike, who, opening his mouth, quickly put an 
end to the battle by swallowing the hapless Frog 
at one mouthful. 

“ I am King of the Fen now! ” cried Slyboots 
with a joyful squeak. “ Long live your Maj¬ 
esty! ” exclaimed the crafty Hawk. As he spoke 



u 


V 


THE BATTLE WAS LONG AND FIERCE ON BOTH SIDES 




















































































THE KING OF THE FEN 


97 


he darted from the tree and, pouncing upon the 
new monarch, bore him away in his claws and put 
an end to his reign and his life at the same 
moment. 


THE SWING 


Hey, the old swing! 

And ho! the old swing! 

And hey, the old swing in the orchard! 

It groans and it creaks, 

It squawks and it squeaks, 

You’d think ’twas most cruelly tortured. 



And ho! the old swing, 

All under the apple trees swaying: 


THE SWING 


99 


“ Oh dear! how they shake me! 

They surely will break me!” 

It seems to be constantly saying. 

Hey! the old swing, 

And ho! the old swing; 

For all its lamenting and sighing, 

Just give it a push, 

And it’s oft with a rush, 

Up into the apple-boughs flying. 

Hey! the old swing, 

And ho! the old swing; 

It’s oft and away with a will now; 

Old swing, stop your moaning, 

Your dreary o-honing! 

I’m sure you’re enjoying it still, now! 


THE TREES 


“ Summer is gone! ” said the Trees. “ The fall 
of the year is come, and it is time for us to dress 
up and be gay.” 

“ I shall wear red! ” said a Maple. 44 Sunset red 
is my color.” 

“ Yellow for me! ” said another. “ My dress 
shall be like pure gold.” 

“ I choose purple! ” said the Ash. “It is the 
color of Kings, and suits me very well.” 

“ What will you wear? ” they all said to the 
little Eir. 

“ I have no other dress! ” said the Eir sadly. 
“ I must wear my plain green frock.” 

“ Te hee! ” laughed the Maples and Birches and 
Ash trees, rustling their leaves and nodding their 
heads. “ She has but one dress! What a poor 
thing she is! ” 


100 


THE TREES 101 

But the old Pine waved his dark branches and 
said: “ Hush! hush! I know what I know! ” 

“ We know, too,” cried the Maples. “ We know 
that in snow-time Santa Claus comes, and chooses 
the finest tree, and dresses it in gold and silver 
and hangs stars all over it. That is why we wish 
to be fine and gay.” 

“ Hush! hush! ” said the old Pine. “ I know 
what I know.” 

So the trees put on their gay robes, gold and red 
and pimple, and each one was finer than the 
rest; only the little Fir and the great old Pine 
stayed just as they were, in their plain green 
dresses. 

Now it grew cold, and a bleak wind blew 
through the forest. The trees shivered and drew 
their bright robes close around them. Colder 
still it grew, and snow fell, and the wind moaned; 
one day Jack Frost came in his silver coat 
and touched the bright leaves with his shining 
brush, and they curled up and turned brown, and, 


102 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


one by one, fell rustling to the ground. Soon the 
poor Maples and Birches and the purple Ash who 
thought he looked like a King stood all bare, and 
the wind blew through their branches, and they 
shook with the cold. They looked at the 
Fir and wished that 


green dress. 
Santa Claus, 
deer 



they had her warm, 
Now came 
driving his rein- 
through the 


forest, crack- “g Ms whip 


and jingling his bells. He looked at the trees with 
his bright eyes. 

“ Ho! ho! ” he said as he saw the Maples and 
Birches. “ What a beggarly set! Why, they have 


THE TREES 


103 


not a cloak among them to keep them warm. 
These will never do for me.” 

But now he saw the little Fir, and a smile came 
over his face. 

“ This is the tree for me! ” he cried. “ Will 
you come with me, little Fir, and be the children’s 
tree, and make many hearts glad? ” 
u That I will! ” said the little Fir gladly. 

So Santa Claus took her away and dressed her 
in gold and silver and hung bright stars all over 
her; and she became *the Christmas Tree, and 
many hearts were glad because of her. 

“ Hush! hush! ” said the old Pine. “ I knew 


what I knew.” 


THE LEPRECHAUN 


“ Come tell, Uncle Shaun,” says Rafferty’s Pat, 
“ On Patrick’s Hay what would they be at 
In Ireland, in Ireland, 

In Ireland o’er the say? 

Would they have the procession, as we do here, 
Banners and shamrocks far and near, 

Or would they do annything annyways queer, 

In Ireland o’er the say? ” 

“ Musha now! wisha now! mind what ye’re at 
Lind me the ears of ye, Rafferty’s Pat! 

In Ireland, in Ireland, 

In Ireland o’er the say, 

One thing on St. Patrick’s Hay does be, 

If a boy should be havin’ the luck to see, 

He’s safe to climb to the top of the tree, 

In Ireland o’er the say. 


104 


THE LEPRECHAUN 


105 


“ For my ould grandmother told me so, 

And wisha! but she was the one to know, 

In Ireland, in Ireland, 

In Ireland o’er the say. 

6 To make your fortune now, Nelligan’s Shaun, 
There’s just one place where you must be gaun, 
And that’s to the dance of the Leprechaun, 

In Ireland o’er the say. 

“ ‘ The Leprechaun’s the height o’ me thumb; 
He’s sharp as a pin and complate as a crumb; 

In Ireland, in Ireland, 

In Ireland o’er the say, 

On Patrick’s Night he be givin’ a dance, 

And oh! it’s the boy would be havin’ the chance 
Could he hold him still wid the stren’th of his 
glance, 

In Ireland o’er the say. 

u ' He be askin’ all manner of beastie and bird, 
And faix! they be cornin’, I give ye me word; 


106 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


In Ireland, in Ireland, 

In Ireland o’er the say, 

The rabbit would come wid his new shillelagh, 
The fox and the goat would be footin’ it gaily, 
The squirrel be there wid his bush for a taily, 
In Ireland o’er the say. 



“ ‘ The pig brought the music, and he for to play 
On a fine concertina ’ (my grandmother say), 

‘ In Ireland, in Ireland, 

In Ireland o’er the say, 

Himself would be dancin’ to bate all the rest, 
For all the world knows how the pig do be blest 








THE LEPRECHAUN 


107 


Wid St. Patrick, long life to him, likin’ him best, 
In Ireland o’er the say. 

“ ‘ The Leprechaun he be judge of the dance, 

And while he be watchin’ it, then is your chance, 
In Ireland, in Ireland, 

In Ireland o’er the say; 

For fix him once wid the stren’th of your eye, 

Ye can hold him there till he’s like to die, 

And he’ll give ye gold for your life’s supply, 

In Ireland o’er the say.’ ” 

“ And oh! Uncle Shaun,” says Rafferty’s Pat, 

“ And did ye be goin’ there? tell about that, 

In Ireland, in Ireland, 

In Ireland o’er the say! ” 

“ Musha now! wisha now! sure but I tried, 
And I lay all night on the cold hill-side, 

But ’twas only mesilf that was like to have died, 
In Ireland o’er the say. 

“ But mind what I’m tellin’ ye, Rafferty’s Pat! 
Ye’d always be thinkin’ of what ye were at, 


108 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


In Ireland, in Ireland, 

In Ireland by the say. 

And on Patrick’s Night if ye hear the pig play, 
Or meet wid a rabbit a-dancin’ so gay, 

Sure the Leprechaun is not far away, 

In Ireland o’er the say.” 


THE DEER AND THE CROW 


(Adapted) 

Once upon a time in a deep wood lived a Deer 
and a Crow, who were great friends and loved 
each other dearly. One day, as the Deer was 
roaming about alone, he met Small-Wit, the 
Jackal. 

Small-Wit was hungry, and when he saw the 
fine fat Deer he said to himself: “ Oho! if only 
I could have this fat Deer for my supper! ” So 
he went up to the Deer, hanging his head and 
looking very sad. 

u Who are you, Friend? ” asked the Deer, “ and 
why do you look so sad? ” 

“ My name is Small-Wit/’ said the Jackal; 
“ and I am sad because I have not a friend in the 
world. Ah! if I could win your friendship how 
happy I should be! 99 

Very well/’ said the Deer, who was very 

109 


u 


110 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

good-natured. u Come with me, and we will be 
friends.’’ 


He led the way to his home, and the Jackal fol¬ 
lowed him. As they drew near, Sharp-Sense, the 



Crow, called from the tree where he was perching: 
“ Who is this number two, Friend Deer? ” 


“ It is Small-Wit, the Jackal,” said the Deer. 
“ He is lonely, and wishes to be our friend.” 

“ Friendship with stranger, 
Friendship with danger! ” 


said the Crow. 




THE DEER AND THE CROW 


111 


“ Nay! ” said the Deer. “ I like this rhyme 
better: 


“ Foe is friend, and friend is foe, 

As our actions make them so.” 

“ Very good,” said Sharp-Sense: “ as you 
will.” 

Next morning they went off hunting, and the 
Jackal said to the Deer: “ I know a field of sweet 
corn, and I will take you there.” 

So the Deer followed Small-Wit, and, sure 
enough, they came to a field of sweet young 
corn. 

“ You are a friend indeed! ” cried the Deer, 
and he feasted till suddenly he fell into a snare 
which the farmer had laid. 

“ Alas! ” cried the Deer, “ Friend Small-Wit, 
here am I caught by the feet, and cannot move. 
Come, I pray you, and gnaw these cords with your 
sharp teeth and set me free! ” 


112 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


The Jackal came and looked at the snare. 
“ That will hold you fast enough,” he said. “ To¬ 
day is a fast day, but to-morrow I will have a 
fine feast on your fat carcass, my foolish friend.” 
And off he went. 

Presently came along Sharp-Sense, the Crow, 
who had been looking for his friend. “ Alas! ” he 
cried, “ how did this happen, Friend Deer? ” 

“ Through not minding what you said,” replied 
the Deer. 

“ Well,” said the Crow, “ we must do what we 
can. Here comes the farmer. Do you lie still and 
pretend to be dead until I croak: then spring up 
and be off.” 

The farmer came along and saw our friend lying 
perfectly still. “ Aha! ” he cried, “ this fellow 
will eat no more of my corn.” 

He stooped down and untied the cords of the 
snare, meaning to carry off the dead Deer; but at 
that moment the Crow gave a loud “ Caw! ” TJp 
sprang the Deer and in a moment was safe in the 


THE DEER AND THE CROW 113 


forest. The farmer flung a club after him; it hit 
Small-Wit, the Jackal, who was lurking near by 
hoping to have a share of the spoil, and killed him; 
and the two friends went home happy. 


LITTLE GOLDSTAR 


(Adapted) 

In a southern garden lived a family of green 
lizards, under the roots of a palm-tree. They were 
merry little creatures, and their parents loved 
them dearly. 

One day Father Lizard said to his children: 
“ Your mother and I must go away this morning; 
now be good children; stay close together, and 
be sure that one of you keeps watch for fear of 
snakes and hawks! ” 

The little lizards promised; and for some time 
they were very careful; first one kept watch, and 
then another; but at length Sprightly said: 
“ There is no danger near. Why should we not 
all play together, just for a little while? ” 

Oh dear! they forgot their promise, and see 
what came of it! While they were playing mer- 


114 


LITTLE GOLDSTAR 115 

rily, a great snake glided quietly out from the. 
grass, seized poor Sprightly, and carried her off 
to his den. 

The other lizards fled in terror. Swiftfoot ran 
up the tree, Longtail hid in the nest, and Goldstar 
ran away and away, to the farthest end of the 
garden. She did not dare to go home again, but 
found a hole in the bank near a summerhouse, 
and slipping into it, stayed all night, weeping for 
the death of her dear Sprightly. 

Next day she tried to find her way home, but 
the garden was large, and she was too afraid of 
snakes to go far; so she decided to stay where 
she was, and make her home in the hole by the 
summerhouse. 

One day, as she was lying in the sun, Goldstar 
saw a boy standing near her, with a cane in his 
hand. At first she was afraid to move, fearing he 
might strike her; but Carlos (for that was the 
boy’s name) was fond of lizards, and would not 
have hurt one for the world. He spoke softly to 


116 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Goldstar, and she soon saw that he was kind and 
good. He stroked her gently, first with a green 
leaf, then with his hand, and Goldstar lay still, 
and was not afraid any more. 

They became great friends, and Carlos came 
every day to see his pretty lizard and play with 
her. One day, as he was coming down the garden 
walk, he saw a large hawk hovering in the air 
near the summerhouse, just about to dart down 
on something. “ Oh! my lizard! my lizard! ” 
cried Carlos; and he ran as fast as he could to 
the spot, shouting and waving his arms. The 
hawk flew screaming away, and Goldstar ran to 
Carlos, and crept inside his jacket. She could 
not speak, but he knew that she was glad, and 
perhaps was trying to thank him in her own 
way. 

One very hot day, Carlos was taking a nap in 
the summerhouse, when he was waked by some¬ 
thing running over his face. He brushed it away 
without opening his eyes, but it came again, and 


LITTLE GOLDSTAR 117 

still again. In fact, lie could not get rid of it. At 
last he sat up, wide awake and very angry, and 
found that it was Goldstar. He tried to shake 
her off, but she ran into his bosom. He was going 
to pull her out in a pet, when, looking down, he 



saw a large snake, with head raised and glittering 
eyes, gliding slowly toward him. He knew its bite 
was fatal, and he sprang up with a loud cry. The 
snake stopped, and then turning, glided away 
into the bushes. 

Very gently, Carlos drew his little pet from his 
bosom, and stroked her green and golden back. 




















118 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


“ Dear Goldstar,” he said, “ if I saved you from 
the hawk, you have saved me from the serpent. I 
will love you and take care of you as long as you 
live.” And so he did. 


THE BROOM 


Swish! swish! swish! swish! 

A servant does my lady wish? 

Here I hang against the wall, 

Spruce and slender, straight and tall. 
Take me down, and then, you know, 
Swiftly to my work I’ll go. 



Steady, even 
strokes and 
strong! 

So I sweep the 
dust along. 

Throw the win- 
d o w s wide, 
that so 

Out the dusky 
cloud may go. 


119 



120 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Swish, and swish! now whirl away! 
No more dust for us to-day! 

In the corners now I rout, 

Poking every atom out. 

At the ceiling now I dash: 

Lurking spiders feel my lash. 
Cobweb, fly, and spider grey, 

Out you come! away! away! 

Swish, swee! swish, swee! 

Sweeping is the game for me! 

If, my little maid, you mean 

Still to keep things neat and clean, 
Trim and shining in your room, 

Come to me, your friend the Broom! 


THE CLEVER CROWS 


(Adapted) 

A pair of crows had their nest in a certain tree. 
It was a fine tree, and suited them well, but they 
had a bad neighbor, a black snake, who often stole 
and ate their young ones. 

“ Husband,” said Mrs. Crow, “ we must leave 
this pleasant home of ours; we shall never be able 
to rear our children while that bad snake is 
there.” 

“ My dear,” replied Mr. Crow, “ think no more 
about him. I have had enough of Black Snake, 
and I am going to get rid of him.” 

“ What can you do against a huge snake like 
that? ” asked Mrs. Crow. 

“ Listen! ” said Mr. Crow. “ As you know, the 
Prince comes every day to bathe in the fountain 
under our tree. He has a fine gold chain, and he 


121 


122 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


takes it off before he goes into the water, and lays 
it on a stone. To-morrow, when he does this, do 
you take the chain in your beak (for I shall be 
away getting food for the babies), and drop it 
into the hollow of the tree, taking care to give 
some good loud 4 Caws ’ while you do so. Then 
wait and see what happens! ” 

Sure enough, next morning the young Prince 
came as usual to bathe in the clear fountain. He 
took off his gold chain and laid it on a stone, just 
as Mr. Crow said he would; then he began to take 
off his robes. Just then down flew Mrs. Crow, 
took the chain in her yellow bill, and flew up into 
the branches with it. “ Oh! my chain! my 
chain! ” cried the Prince. “ That crow has flown 
away with it! ” 

“ Have peace, your Highness! ” replied his 
servant. “ The bird has not flown far; she 
has this instant dropped the chain into a hole 
in the tree, and I will climb up and get 
it.” 


THE CLEVER CROWS 123 

Up climbed the servant, and looked down into 
the hole. 

“ Do you see my chain? ” cried the Prince. 

“ Yes,” said the servant, “I see it, shining in 



the hole, but I see something else that is not so 
pretty; the head of a great ugly black snake. If 
your Highness will throw me up a stone, I will 
kill the creature, for it is a poisonous snake.” 

So the Prince threw up a stone, and the servant 




124 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

cauglit it, and killed the snake with it. Then he 
reached down into the hole, pulled out the gold 
chain, and took it back to his master, who thanked 
him kindly. 

“ Ah! ” said Mrs. Crow. “ He is glad to get 
back his fine jewel; but I am far happier, for I 
have my babies safe and sound. See what it is 
to have a clever husband! I must be sure to have 
everything he likes best for supper to-night.” 

So she did! I do not know what crows like best 
for supper, so I cannot tell you; but they had a 
wonderful feast, and the little ones picked the 
bones, and there was no happier family in all the 
forest than the Crow Family. 



WE MAKE OUR BOW TO YOU.” 



































































































































































































































































































THE JOHN-BETTY TABLE 


Twice one is two, 

We make our bow to you. 

Twice two is four, 

We dance upon the floor. 

Twice three is six, 

We build a house with 
bricks. 

Twice four is eight, 

We swing upon the gate. 

Twice five is ten, 

We chase the neighbor’s 
hen. 



125 



126 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Twice six is twelve, 

In mud we dig and delve. 


Twice seven is fourteen, 

We hear old Piggy snorting. 

Twice eight is sixteen, 

We have some little chicks 


Twice nine is eighteen, 

We see our nursie waiting. 

Twice ten is twenty, 

We’ve bread and jam in 
plenty. 

Twice eleven is twenty-two, 
I’m put to bed, and so are 
you. 



Twice twelve is twenty-four, 
Put out the light, and shut 
the door. 




THE JOHN-BETTY TABLE 


127 


Three times three is nine, 
I’ll give yon help of mine. 


Three times four is twelve, 

This axe has lost its helve. 

Three times five is fifteen, 

Ugh! Father’s pipe I’ve 
whiffed in. 

Three times six is eighteen, 

We think we’ll go a-skating. 

Three times seven is twenty- 
one, 

We buy ourselves a plummy 
bun. 

Three times eight is twenty- 
four, 

We eat it up, and ask for more. 

Three times nine is twenty- 
seven, 

John is a horse, and must be 
driven. 



128 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Three times ten is thirty. 
Dear Betty’s face is dirty. 


Three times eleven is thirty- 
three, 

We sing “ high diddle, diddle 
dee! ” 

Three times twelve is thirty- 
six. 

We play our nursie pleasant 
tricks. 

Four times four is sixteen. 

The dolly’s leg we’ve fixed in. 

Four times five is twenty, 

Miss Betty’s frock is dainty. 

Four times six is twenty-four. 

We like to thump upon the door. 



Four times seven is twenty-eight. 
We draw some beasts upon the slate. 










THE JOHN-BETTY TABLE 


129 


Four times eight is thirty-two. 

We break the chair and tumble through. 


Four times nine is thirty-six. 

With milk and mud our dough 
we mix. 

Four times ten is forty. 

I think dear John is naughty. 

Four times eleven is forty- 
four. 

He says he’ll do it never more. 

Four times twelve is forty- 
eight, 

And now we think it’s getting 
late. 

Five times five is twenty-five. 

We go with dear Papa to drive. 



Five times six is thirty. 
We see our Cousin Gerty. 




130 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 

Five times seven is thirty-five. 

We see some bees around the hive. 


Five times eight is forty. 

We want a little more tea. 

Five times nine is forty-five. 

We teach the puppy how to 
dive. 

Five times ten is fifty. 

The snow is very drifty. 

Five times eleven is fifty- 
five, 

When we are bad, we never 
thrive. 

Five times twelve is sixty. 

We feel a little mixed-y. 

Six times six is thirty-six. 

We must not touch the 
candle wicks. 














THE JOHN-BETTY TABLE 

Six times seven is forty-two. 

What do you think we’d better do? 


131 


Six times eight is forty-eight. 

We’ll fish, and take the sponge 
for bait. 

Six times nine is fifty-four. 

We’ve caught a thousand 
whales and more. 

Six times ten is sixty. 

Nurse says we’ve made a pigsty. 

Six times eleven is sixty-six, 

We’re such unlucky little chicks. 

Six times twelve is seventy-two. 

Boohoo! boohoo! boo hoo! boo 
hoo! 

Seven times seven is forty-nine. 

Dear John, you know this doll is 



mine. 







132 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Seven times eight is fifty-six. 

You might just give me half your bricks! 


Seven times nine is sixty-three. 

You’re just as cross as you canbe. 

Seven times ten is seventy. 

Now kiss and be forgiven-ty. 

Seven times eleven is seventy- 
seven. 

Let’s play we are the fox and 
raven. 

Seven times twelve is eighty- 
four. 

No! let’s be lions. Roar! roar! 
roar! 

Eight times eight is sixty-four. 

Dear John now keeps a grocery 
store. 



Eight times nine are seventy-two. 
Dear Betty comes to buy some glue. 






THE JOHN-BETTY TABLE 133 


Eight times ten is eighty. 
My bundle’s very weighty. 


Eight times eleven is eighty- 
eight. 

Please pay me, quick! I cannot 
wait. 

Eight times twelve is ninety- 
six. 

Make out the change, and play 
no tricks! 

Nine times nine is eighty-one. 

A tea-party will be such fun! 

Nine times ten is ninety. 

Dear Betty makes such fine 
tea! 

Nine times eleven is ninety- 
nine. 

Will you have beer, dear John, 
or wine? 



Nine times twelve is one hundred and eight. 
Our table-cloth is far from straight. 











134 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 

Ten times ten is one hundred. 
Sure, one of us has blundered. 


Ten times eleven is one hun- 
dred and ten. .. 

We’ll try to mend it up again.\p * 11 

Ijjk 

Ten times twelve is one hun- / ’ 
dred and twenty. 

Let’s play we’re making some 
frumenty. 

Eleven times eleven is one hun¬ 
dred and twenty-one. 

We hang our washing in the 

pi i> a- 

sun. 

Eleven times twelve is one } 
hundred and thirty-two. 

Our nursie says, “ Be quiet, 
do! ” 



Twelve times twelve is one hundred 
and forty-four. 

Dear John and Betty can do no more. 


THE LITTLE GRAY DOVES 



There are many old, old stories about the dear 
Christ Child when he was little. Not all of them 
are true, but all are sweet and lovely; listen now, 
and you shall hear one. 

It had been raining in Nazareth, and the 
ground, which had long been parched and dry, was 
turned to wet clay. This was a wonderful thing 
for the children, and they all ran to play with the 
clay, just as you boys and girls do now. Some 
dug canals and wells, some built houses and tow¬ 
ers; while others took the soft clay in their hands 
and moulded it into shapes of men and animals. 

135 


136 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

The little Jesus joined this last group, and while 
they made dogs and cats, horses and lions, he 
made little gray doves, and set them one by one 
on the edge of the fountain. 

Presently sweet Mary the Mother came to the 
door and looked out, to see what the children were 
doing. 

“ See! ” cried one little boy. “ Mary Mother, 
see my dog! he can almost wag his tail and bark.” 

“ Look at my lion! ” cried another. “ He is 
so big and strong, he could eat up your dog in a 
minute. ’ ’ 

“ Ho! ” said a third. “ My man here could 
whip your dog, and kill your lion with his sword, 
so he is the best of all.” 

Mary Mother smiled, and praised the dog, the 
lion, and the man. Then she said, “ And what 
has my little Jesus to show mel ” 

“ I have made some little gray doves,” said 
Jesus. “ See! here they are! ” 

“ And what can they do, my little one? ” asked 


THE LITTLE GRAY DOVES 


137 


sweet Mary, as she stroked the boy’s curly 
head. 

“ I think they can fly! ” said little Jesus. 
“ Fly, pretty doves! ” 

He clapped his hands, and up flew the doves 
like a soft gray cloud. Then fluttered round the 
child’s fair head, and lighted for a moment on his 
shoulders and his hands; then they spread their 
gray wflngs and flew up into the sky, and were 


seen no more. 


MERRY CHRISTMAS 


“ What is going on to-day, Little Cat? ” asked 
Little Dog. “ Every one seems so happy and 
merry. I had chicken-bones for breakfast, with 
ever so much meat on them! ” 

“ I had creamed fish,” said Little Cat; “ and 
it was real cream. Look! Little Girl tied a red 
ribbon round my neck, and said I was a beauty. 
Am I, Little Dog? ” 

“ Yes, for a cat! ” said Little Dog. “ Am I? ” 

“Yes, for a dog! ” said Little Cat. 

“ I have a new collar, you see,” said Little Dog. 
“ And your girl has on a new blue dress, and my 
boy a velvet jacket. And they are not going to 
say one cross word all day; I heard them tell their 
mother so.” 

“ I was in the nursery this morning,” said Lit- 


138 


MERRY CHRISTMAS 139 

tie Cat. “ The children’s stockings were full of 
toys and sugar-plums, and they kissed each other 
and said, ‘ Merry ’ — something! What can it all 
mean'? ” 



“ Let us ask Great Old Dog! 99 said Little Dog. 
“ He knows almost everything, and he can surely 
tell us.” 

Great Old Dog was asleep, but he woke up and 
heard their story patiently. “ It was ‘ Merry 



140 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Christmas! ’ that the children said,” he told 
them. “ This is Christmas Day.” 

“ What does it mean? ” asked Little Cat. 

“ I don’t understand all about it,” said Great 
Old Dog; “ but it is the best day in the whole 
year, for everybody is happy and kind, and tries 
to do pleasant things for everybody else. I think 
some one was born who brought kindness into the 
world.” 

“ Well,” said Little Dog; “ if everybody is 
going to be good we must be good, too. Little Cat, 
I will not growl at you once to-day, even if they 
put our dinner on the same plate! ” 

“ Nor I at you,” said Little Cat, “ even if there 
is only one cushion by the fireside.” 

“ Nice Little Cat! ” said Little Dog. 

“ Good Little Dog! ” said Little Cat. 

Just then in came Little Girl in her blue dress 
and Little Boy in his velvet jacket. “ Merry 
Christmas! ” they cried: “ Little Cat and Little 
Dog, and dear, good Great Old Dog! ” 


MERRY CHRISTMAS 


141 


u We wish you Merry Christmas, 

And a happy New Year; 

A pocket full of money, 

And a heart full of cheer! ” 

“ Merry Christmas! 99 said Little Dog (but it 
sounded like “ Yap! yap! ”). 

“ Merry Christmas! ” said Little Cat (but it 
sounded like “ Purrrrrrrrrrr! ”). 

“ Merry Christmas! 99 said Great Old Dog, deep 
down in his great old throat (but it sounded like 
“Wuffi Wuff! WUFF!”). 


CHRISTMAS GIFTS 


“ Mother /’ said Jack, “ may I have some 
money to buy Christmas presents with? ” 

“ Dear,” said his mother, “ I have no money. 
We are very poor, and I can hardly buy food for 
us all.” 

Jack hung his head; if he had not been ten the 
tears would have come to his eyes, but he was ten. 

“ All the other boys give presents! ” he said. 

“ So shall you! ” said his mother. “ All pres¬ 
ents are not bought with money. The best boy 
that ever lived was as poor as we are, and yet he 
was always giving.” 

“ Who was he? ” asked Jack; “ and what did 
he give? ” 

“ This is his birthday,” said the mother. “ He 
was the good Jesus. He was born in a stable, and 


142 


CHRISTMAS GIFTS 


143 


he lived in a poor workingman’s house. He never 
had a penny of his own, yet he gave twelve good 
gifts every day. Would you like to try his way? ” 

“ Yes! ” cried Jack. 

So his mother told him this and that; and soon 
after Jack started out, dressed in his best suit, 
to give his presents. 

First, he went to Aunt Jane’s house. She was 
old and lame and she did not like boys. 

“ What do you want? ” she asked as she opened 
the door. 

“ Merry Christmas! ” said Jack. “ May I stay 
for an hour and help you? ” 

“ Humph! ” said Aunt Jane. “ Want to keep 
you out of mischief, do they? Well! you may 
bring in some wood.” 

“ Shall I split some kindling, too? ” asked Jack. 

“ If you know how! ” said Aunt Jane. “ I 
can’t have you cutting your foot and messing my 
clean shed all up.” 

Jack found some fresh pine wood and a bright 


144 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


hatchet, and he split up a great pile of kindling 
and thought it fun. He stacked it neatly, and then 
he brought in a pail of water and filled the kettle. 

“ What else can I do? ” he asked. “ There are 
twenty minutes more.” 

“ Humph ! ” said 
Aunt Jane. “ You 
might feed the pig.” 

Jack fed the pig, who 
thanked him in his own 
way. 

“Ten minutes 
more!” he said. 

“What shall I do 
now? ” 

“ Humph ! ” said 
Aunt Jane. “ You 
may sit down and tell 
me why you came.” 

“It is a Christmas present! ” said Jack. “ I 
am giving hours for presents. I had twelve, hut 













CHRISTMAS GIFTS 


145 


I gave one to Mother, and another one was gone 
before I knew I had it. This hour was your pres¬ 
ent.” 

“ Humph! ” said Aunt Jane. She hobbled to 
the cupboard and took out a small round pie that 
smelt very good. “ Here! ” she said. “ This is 
your present, and I thank you for mine. Come 
again, will you? ” 

“ Indeed I will! ” said Jack, “ and thank you 
for the pie! ” 

Next Jack went and read for an hour to old 
Mr. Green, who was blind. He read a book about 
the sea, and they both liked it very much, so the 
hour went quickly. Then it was time to help 
Mother get dinner, and then time to eat it; that 
took two hours, and Aunt Jane’s pie was wonder¬ 
ful. Then Jack took the Smith baby for a ride 
in its carriage, as Mrs. Smith was ill, and they 
met its grandfather, who filled Jack’s pockets with 
candy and popcorn and invited him to a Christmas 
Tree that night. 


146 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

Next Jack went to see Willy Brown, who had 
been ill for a long time and could not leave his 
bed. Willy w T as very glad to see him; they 
played a game, and then each told the other 
a story, and before Jack knew it the clock struck 
six. 

“ Oh! ” cried Jack. “ You have had two! ” 

“ Two what? ” asked Willy. 

“ Two hours! ” said Jack; and he told Willy 
about the presents he was giving. u I am glad 
I gave you two/’ he said, “ and I would give you 
three, but I must go and help Mother.’’ 

“ Oh, dear! ” said Willy. “ I thank you very 
much, Jack. I have had a perfectly great time, 
and it has driven the pain away; but I have noth¬ 
ing to give you.” 

Jack laughed. “ Why, don’t you see,” he cried, 
“ you have given me just the same thing? I have 
had a great time, too.” 

“ Mother,” said Jack as he was going to bed, 
“ I have had a splendid Christmas, but I wish I 


CHRISTMAS GIFTS 


147 


had had something to give you besides the 
hours.” 

i( My darling,” said his mother, “ you have 
given me the best gift of all, yourself! ” 


CHURCH-BELLS 


(Adapted from the German of Froebel. Air 
“ The Bells of Aberdovey ”) 

Through the window, sunbeams bright 
Fill the church with radiant light. 
Now the doors wide open throw, 

That we into church may go. 

Chorus. Ding-dong! ding-dong! hark, the bell! 
Oh, lovely things to us Twill tell, 

As we walk to church together. 

In the church so calm, so still, 

Gentlest thoughts our heart must fill. 
Lifted high, our spirit learns 
Why with holy love it burns. 

Chorus. Ding-dong! ding-dong! hark, the bell! 
etc. 



“ NOW THE DOORS WIDE OPEN THROW, 
THAT WE INTO CHURCH MAY GO.” 



















































CHURCH-BELLS 


149 


And we learn of Him who gives 
Light and joy to all that lives: 
He whose tender love and mild 
Watches over every child. 



Chorus. Ding-dong! ding-dong! hark, the bell! 
etc. 


He who made the forest fair, 

And the flowers that blossom there, 







THREE MINUTE STORIES 


150 

Gave the bird its airy wings, 

Gave the joyful song it sings. 

Chorus. Ding-dong! ding-dong! hark, the bell! 
etc. 

And we learn of Jesus mild, 

He the pure and sinless child, 

Sent that children all may know 
How a child in grace may grow. 

Chorus. Ding-dong! ding-dong! hark, the bell! 
etc. 

Now the organ’s solemn voice 
Joins the bell, and both rejoice. 
Children, join the song of love! 

Raise your hearts to Heaven above! 

Chorus. Ding-dong! ding-dong! hark, the bell! 
etc. 


THE BIRD OF LIGHT 


(Adapted from the German of Froebel) 

A golden bird against the wall 
Flutters and flits, and does not fall. 
Birdie, let me hold you, 

In my hands soft fold you! 

No! the birdie flies away! 

Will not, will not with me stay. 



151 




152 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


’Tis the sunshine bright, dear, 

Makes the bird of light, dear. 
Sunbeams gay and golden 
Not by hands are holden. 

’Tis our eyes that they delight, 
Dancing, dancing, glad and bright. 

Many lovely things we see 
Cannot be touched by you or me. 

Sun and moon and sky, too, 
Floating clouds so high, too, 
Purple shadows on the grass, 
Rainbow gleams that shine and pass. 

Can you catch the lovely song 
Robin trills the whole day long? 

Can you catch my smile, dear? 

No! yet all the while, dear, 

These are yours, and in your heart 
All your life they’ll play their part. 


THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS 
(Adapted from the German of Froebel) 



Five happy brothers and sisters here, 

They love each other so dear, so dear! 

The day’s work over, they seek their rest, 
And sink to sleep like the birds in their nest. 


Peaceful sleep, gentle sleep, 

Mind and body strong will keep. 
When the golden mom doth break, 
Blithe and ready shall we wake. 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 

But before they close their eyes. 

Hear their evening prayer arise! 

Praying God, their Father dear, 

Still to watch their slumber here. 

Peaceful sleep, gentle sleep, 

Naught shall break thy calm so deep. 
He who sends thee to our eyes, 
Watches till the day shall rise. 

Through the quiet starry night, 

Through the day so long and bright, 

God our Father’s tender care 
Still is with us everywhere. 

Peaceful sleep, gentle sleep! 

Heavenly eyes their watch do keep. 
Little child, so now shall you 
Slumber, slumber softly too! 


THE PIGEONS 


(Adapted from the German of Froebel) 

“ Curuck! Curuck! ” the pigeons come flying, 
Plying, fluttering, here and there. 

“ Welcome! welcome! ” let us be crying. 

“ Come, pretty pigeons, our meal to share. 
Have no fear, 

Pigeons dear, 



155 











156 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


Corn and bread we’re throwing, 

All for you, 

Truly true, 

Thus our love we’re showing.” 

“ Curuck! Curuck! ” the pigeons are cooing. 

“ Thanks, little children, thanks to you! 
From the good deed that now you’re doing, 
Learn we that children are kind and true. 
Free from fear, 

See us here! 

Each to each we call now, 

4 Curuck! coo! 

We and you, 

Happy are we all now.’ ” 


PUSSY AND DOGGY 


Pussy White and Doggy Brown were in the 
yard one day. Doggy Brown thought he would 
like to go into the house, so he went to the door, 



but it was shut. He tried to open it by bumping 
against it, but in vain. Then he barked, but no 
one heard him. Then he felt very sad, and sat 
down by the door and howled. 

Pussy White had been watching him with one 
eye, while she dozed with the other. 

157 











158 


THREE MINUTE STORIES 


“ Dogs are not very clever! ” she said. Pres¬ 
ently she went to the door and jumped up and 
lifted the latch with her paw. The door swung 
open. 

“ There! ” she said. 

“ Oh, Pussy! ” said Doggy Brown. “ Thank 
you; how clever you are! ” 

“ That is one way of putting it/’ said Pussy 
White; “ but you are welcome, all the same.” 


DICK’S FAMILY 


Now this is true, for we saw it with our eyes. 
Dick was a bachelor, or so we had always sup¬ 
posed: a large black bachelor, with bright green 
eyes, and a very fine tail. He lived in the kitchen, 
and managed things pretty much as he pleased. 
When Peter, the new puppy, came he thought it 
would be fun to tease Dick. Dick thought it would 
be fun to be teased, and when he had sent Peter 
yelping and ki-yi-ing out into the shed, he sat and 
purred and blinked his green eyes, and thought 
the world a pleasant place. 

Now one day we looked out of the south parlor 
window, and what do you think we saw? Dick 
was coming across the lawn looking very proud 
and very happy. Every now and then he stopped 
and looked over his shoulder and mewed as if he 
were calling some one to follow him. And some 

159 


160 THREE MINUTE STORIES 

one was following him! Across the lawn after him 


came: 

One very thin and wretched-looking tortoise¬ 
shell cat. 

One Maltese kitten. 

One yellow kitten. 

All three looked half-starved, and all three were 



scared out of their wits! 

“ Come on! ” said Dick, as plain as mew could 
speak. “ They won’t hurt you; those are my peo¬ 
ple: they belong to me. Come on, I tell you! ” 
They came on, though still very timidly, till they 
reached the barn. Then Dick took them under the 
barn and there he made them comfortable, we do 


DICK’S FAMILY 


161 


not know just how, because we cannot get under 
the barn, and there they stayed. And when Dick 
came for his supper he said to Maggie as plain as 
mew could speak, “ Please feed my family, too! ” 
and Maggie did. 

That was a year ago. Now the tortoise-shell 
cat is dead, but the Maltese kitten and the yellow 
kitten are large and handsome cats, and Dick still 
sits by the fire and purrs, and blinks his large 
green eyes. 


THE END. 





Selections from 
The Page Company’s 
Books for Young People 


THE BLUE BONNET SERIES 

Each large 12mo, cUth decorative , illustrated, per 
volume .$1.50 

A TEXAS BLUE BONNET 

By Caroline E. Jacobs. 

“ The book’s heroine, Blue Bonnet, has the very finest 
kind of wholesome, honest, lively girlishness and cannot 
but make friends with every one who meets her through 
the book as medium.” — Chicago Inter-Ocean. 

BLUE BONNET’S RANCH PARTY 

By Caroline E. Jacobs and Edyth Ellerbeck Read. 
11 The story is both pretty and unhackneyed in its sim¬ 
plicity, and is as unlike the ordinary tale of Texas as any¬ 
thing to be imagined.” — The Living Age. 

BLUE BONNET IN BOSTON; Or, Boarding- 

School Days at Miss North’s. 

By Caroline E. Jacobs and Lela Horn Richards. 
Blue Bonnet enters a Boston boarding-school in this 
volume, and though she finds it rather hard to conform 
to the rules and regulations, her breezy, generous and 
impulsive nature soon make her a favorite at the select 
school. 

A—1 





THE PAGE COMPANY’S 


THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES 

By Harrison Adams 

Each 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per 
volume .$1.25 

THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO; Or, 

Clearing the Wilderness. 

“ Such books as this are an admirable means of stimu¬ 
lating among the young Americans of to-day interest in 
the story of their pioneer ancestors and the early days of 
the Republic.” — Boston Globe. 

“ Very interesting and instructive from a historical 
point of view, as giving an accurate idea of the hardships 
endured by the pioneers of the Revolutionary days.” — 
Omaha Excelsior. 

THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES; 

Or, On the Trail of the Iroquois. 

“ The recital of the daring deeds of the frontier is not 
only interesting but instructive as well and shows the 
sterling type of character which these days of self-reliance 
and trial produced.” -— American Tourist, Chicago. 

THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI; 

Or, The Homestead in the Wilderness. 

“ The story is told with spirit, is full of adventure and 
will prove one of the most popular contributions to the 
literature of those days when bold pioneers paved the 
way to the present settlement and civilization of the 
Middle West.” — New York Sun. 

THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSOURI; 

Or, In the Country of the Sioux. 

“ Vivid in style, vigorous in movement, full of dramatic 
situations, true to historic perspective, this story is a 
capital one for boys.” — Watchman Examiner, New York 
City. 

A—2 




BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE HADLEY HALL SERIES 

By Louise M. Breitenbach 
Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per 
volume .$1.50 

ALMA AT HADLEY HALL 

“ The author is to be congratulated on having written 
such an appealing book for girls.” — Detroit Free Press. 

ALMA’S SOPHOMORE YEAR 

“It cannot fail to appeal to the lovers of good things 
in girls’ books.” — Boston Herald. 

“ It is a wholesome story as well as a most entertaining 
one, and is a valuable addition to the literature for girls.” 
— The Gateway Gazette, Beaumont, Cal. 

ALMA’S JUNIOR YEAR 

“ The diverse characters in the boarding-school are 
strongly drawn, the incidents are well developed and the 
action is never dull.” —- The Boston Herald. 


THE GIRLS OF 
FRIENDLY TERRACE SERIES 

By Harriet Lummis Smith 
Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, 
per volume .$1.50 

THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE 

“ A book sure to please girl readers, for the author seems 
to understand perfectly the girl character.” — Boston 
Globe. 

PEGGY RAYMOND’S VACATION 

“ It is a clean, wholesome, hearty story, well told and 
full of incident. It is not an impossible creation, nor an 
improbable one. Indeed, it is all very lifelike, and carries 
one through experiences that hearten and brighten the 
day.” — Utica, N. Y., Observer. 

A—3 






THE PAGE COMPANY’S 


FAMOUS LEADERS SERIES 

By Charles H. L. Johnston 
Each large 12mo, cloth decorative , illustrated , per 
volume .$1.50 

FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS 

“ More of such books should be written, books that 
acquaint young readers with historical personages in a 
pleasant, informal way.” — New York Sun. 

“ It is a book that will stir the heart of every boy and 
will prove interesting as well to the adults.” — Lawrence 
Daily World. 

FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS 

“ Mr. Johnston has done faithful work in this volume, 
and his relation of battles, sieges and struggles of these 
famous Indians with the whites for the possession of 
America is a worthy addition to United States History.” 
— New York Marine Journal. 

FAMOUS SCOUTS 

“ It is the kind of a book that will have a great fascina¬ 
tion for boys and young men, and while it entertains them 
it will also present valuable information in regard to 
those who have left their impress upon the history of the 
country.” — The New London Day. 

FAMOUS PRIVATEERSMEN AND ADVEN¬ 
TURERS OF THE SEA 

“ The tales are more than merely interesting; they are 
entrancing, stirring the blood with thrilling force and 
bringing new zest to the never-ending interest in the 
dramas of the sea.” — The Pittsburgh Post. 

FAMOUS FRONTIERSMEN AND HEROES 
OF THE BORDER 

This book is devoted to a description of the adventur¬ 
ous lives and stirring experiences of many pioneer heroes 
who were prominently identified with the opening of the 
Great West. 

“ The accounts are not only authentic, but distinctly 
readable, making a book of wide appeal to all who love 
the history of actual adventure.” — Cleveland Leader . 
A—4 



BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL SERIES 

By Marion Ames Taggart 

Each large 12mo, cloth , illustrated , per vol. . $1.50 

THE DOCTOR’S LITTLE GIRL 

“ A charming story of the ups and downs of the life of a 
dear little maid.” — The Churchman. 

SWEET NANCY: The Further Adventures of 
the Doctor’s Little Girl. 

“ Just the sort of book to amuse, while its influence 
cannot but be elevating.” — New York Sun. 

NANCY, THE DOCTOR’S LITTLE PARTNER 

“ The story is sweet and fascinating, such as many girls 
of wholesome tastes will enjoy.” — Springfield Union. 

NANCY PORTER’S OPPORTUNITY 

“ Nancy shows throughout that she is a splendid young 
woman, with plenty of pluck.” — Boston Globe. 

NANCY AND THE COGGS TWINS 

The breezy Coggs twins — four girls — first introduced 
in “Nancy, the Doctor’s Little Partner,” take the centre 
of the stage in this new story, although Nancy plays a 
most important part. 


THE SUNBRIDGE GIRLS AT SIX STAR 
RANCH 

By Eleanor Stuart. 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . $1.50 

“ It is a wholesome tale about healthy, lovable girls.” 
— Scranton Times. 

THE FIDDLING GIRL 

By Daisy Rhodes Campbell. 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25 

A charming story of how a young girl realizes her am¬ 
bitions and becomes an accomplished violinist. 

THE ISLAND OF MAKE BELIEVE 

By Blanche E. Wade. 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.50 

This is a delightful story of the different ways in which 
little people can entertain themselves. 

A—5 





THE PAGE COMPANY'S 


THE ROYS’ STORY OF THE 
RAILROAD SERIES 

By Burton E. Stevenson 

Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per 
volume .SI. 50 

THE YOUNG SECTION - HAND; Or, The Ad¬ 
ventures of Allan West. 

“ A thrilling story, well told, clean and bright. The 
whole range of section railroading is covered in the story, 
and it contains information as well as interest.” — Chicago 
Post. 

THE YOUNG TRAIN DISPATCHER 

“ A vivacious account of the varied and often hazard¬ 
ous nature of railroad life, full of incident and adventure, 
in which the author has woven admirable advice about 
honesty, manliness, self-culture, good reading, and the 
secrets of success.” — Congregationalist. 

THE YOUNG TRAIN MASTER 

“ It is a book that can be unreservedly commended to 
anyone who loves a good, wholesome, thrilling, informing 
yarn.” — Passaic News. 

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; Or, Allan West’s 
Chum. 

“ The story is intensely interesting, and one gains an 
intimate knowledge of the methods and works in the 
great car shops not easily gained elsewhere.” — Baltimore 
Sun. 

“ It appeals to every boy of enterprising spirit, and at 
the same time teaches him some valuable lessons in honor, 
pluck, and perseverance.” — Cleveland Plain Dealer. 

“ The lessons that the books teach in development of 
uprightness, honesty and true manly character are sure 
to appeal to the reader.” — The American Boy. 

A—6 



BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS 

(Trade Mark) 

By Annie Fellows Johnston 
Each large 12mo, cloth, illustrated, per volume . $1.50 

THE LITTLE COLONEL STORIES 

(Trade Mark) 

Being three “ Little Colonel ” stories in the Cosy Corner 
Series, “ The Little Colonel,” “ Two Little Knights of 
Kentucky,” and “ The Giant Scissors,” in a single volume. 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S HOUSE PARTY 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S HOLIDAYS 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S HERO 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING- 

(Trade Mark) 

SCHOOL 

THE LITTLE COLONEL IN ARIZONA 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S CHRISTMAS 

(Trade Mark) 

VACATION 

THE LITTLE COLONEL, MAID OF HONOR 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S KNIGHT COMES 

(Trade Mark) 

RIDING 

MARY WARE: THE LITTLE COLONEL’S 

(Trade Mark) 

CHUM 

MARY WARE IN TEXAS 

MARY WARE’S PROMISED LAND 

These twelve volumes, boxed as a set, $18.00. 

A—7 



THE PAGE COMPANY’S 


SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITIONS 

Each small quarto , cloth decorative, per volume . $1.25 

New plates, handsomely illustrated with eight full-page 
drawings in color, and many marginal sketches. 

THE LITTLE COLONEL 

(Trade Mark) 

TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY 
THE GIANT SCISSORS 
BIG BROTHER 

THE JOHNSTON JEWEL SERIES 

Each small 16mo, cloth decorative , with frontispiece 

and decorative text borders, per volume . $0.50 

IN THE DESERT OF WAITING: The Legend 
of Camelback Mountain. 

THE THREE WEAVERS: A Fairy Tale for 
Fathers and Mothers as Well as for Their 
Daughters. 

KEEPING TRYST: A Tale of King Arthur’s 
Time. 

THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART 

THE RESCUE OF PRINCESS WINSOME: 

A Fairy Play for Old and Young. 

THE JESTER’S SWORD 


THE LITTLE COLONEL’S GOOD TIMES 
BOOK 

Uniform in size with the Little Colonel Series . $1.50 

Bound in white kid (morocco) and gold . 3.00 

Cover design and decorations by Peter Verberg. 

“ A mighty attractive volume in which the owner may 
record the good times she has on decorated pages, and 
under the directions as it were of Annie Fellows John¬ 
ston.” — Buffalo Express. 

A—8 





BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE LITTLE COLONEL DOLL BOOK 

Quarto, boards, printed in colors . . . $1.50 

A series of Little Colonel ” dolls. There are many of 
them and each has several changes of costume, so that 
the happy group can be appropriately clad for the re¬ 
hearsal of any scene or incident in the series. 

THE MARY WARE DOLL BOOK 

Quarto, boards, printed in colors . .$1.50 

An artistic series of paper dolls, including not only 
lovable Mary Ware, the Little Colonel’s chum, but many 
another of the much loved characters which appear in 
the last three volumes of the famous “ Little Colone 1 
Series.” 

ASA HOLMES 

By Annie Fellows Johnston. 

With a frontispiece by Ernest Fosbery. 

16mo, cloth decorative, gilt top . . $1.00 

“ ‘ Asa Holmes ’ is the most delightful, most sympa¬ 
thetic and wholesome book that has been published in a 
long while.” —- Boston Times. 

TRAVELERS FIVE: ALONG LIFE’S HIGH¬ 
WAY 

By Annie Fellows Johnston. 

With an introduction by Bliss Carman, and a frontis¬ 
piece by E. H. Garrett. 

12mo, cloth decorative.$1.25 

“ Mrs. Johnston broadens her reputation with this book 
so rich in the significance of common things.” — Boston 
Advertiser. 

JOEL: A BOY OF GALILEE 

By Annie Fellows Johnston. 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

“ The book is a very clever handling of the greatest 
event in the history of the world.” — Rochester, N. Y., 
Herald. 

“ Reverently written, it possesses much attraction for 
the piously inclined, and this seems to have increased 

rather than decreased in the years the work has been 

before the public.” — Chicago Daily News. 

A—9 




THE PAGE COMPANY’S 


WORKS OF 

MARSHALL SAUNDERS 

Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per 
volume .$1.50 

BEAUTIFUL JOE’S PARADISE ; Or, The Island 
of Brotherly Love. A Sequel to “ Beautiful Joe.” 

“ This book revives the spirit of ‘ Beautiful Joe ’ capi¬ 
tally. It is fairly riotous with fun, and is about as unusual 
as anything in the animal book line that has seen the 
light.” — Philadelphia Item. 

’TILDA JANE 

“ I cannot think of any better book for children than 
this. I commend it unreservedly.” — Cyrus T. Brady. 

’TILDA JANE’S ORPHANS. A Sequel to “ 'Tilda 
Jane.” 

“It is written in the author’s best vein, and presents 
a variety of interesting characters.” — New London Day 

’TILDA JANE IN CALIFORNIA 

The story is full of life and action, and troubles, which 
lead to character building, mingled with fun and cheer¬ 
fulness, and is a wholesome book to put in the hands of 
girl readers. 

PUSSY BLACK-FACE: The Story of a Kitten 
and Her Friends. 

“ This is one of Marshall Saunders’s best stories, and 
Miss Saunders has an enviable reputation as a writer of 
animal life.” — Los Angeles, Cal., Express. 

THE STORY OF THE GRAVELYS 

“ The story is full of that refinement which appeals to 
the best taste. It takes for its motto Cardinal Gibbons’s 
expression that 1 A child’s needless tear is a blood-blot 
on this earth,’ and works out a beautiful and moving 
story.”— St. Louis Globe-Democrat. 

A—10 




BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


WORKS OF EVALEEN STEIN 

THE CHRISTMAS PORRINGER 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated by Adelaide 

Everhart.$1.25 

This story happened many hundreds of years ago in 
the quaint Flemish city of Bruges and concerns a little 
girl named Karen, who worked at lace-making with her 
aged grandmother. 

GABRIEL AND THE HOUR BOOK 

Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and 
decorated in colors by Adelaide Everhart . . $1.00 

“No works in juvenile fiction contain so many of the 
elements that stir the hearts of children and grown-ups as 
well as do the stories so admirably told by this author.” 

— Louisville Daily Courier. 

A LITTLE SHEPHERD OF PROVENCE 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated by Diantha 

H. Marlowe.$1.25 

“ The story should be one of the influences in the life 
of every child to whom good stories can be made to 
appeal.” — Public Ledger. 

THE LITTLE COUNT OF NORMANDY 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated by John Goss $1.25 
“ This touching and pleasing story is told with a wealth 
of interest coupled with enlivening descriptions of the 
country where its scenes are laid and of the people thereof.” 

— Wilmington Every Evening. 


THE LITTLE FLORENTINE 

By H. Twitchell. 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.25 

An unusually charming story of a talented young mu¬ 
sician, who lived in the early part of the seventeenth 
century, and of his struggle for recognition. 

A—11 






THE PAGE COMPANY'S 


THE RIVAL CAMPERS SERIES 

By Ruel Perley Smith 
Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per 
volume .$1.50 

THE RIVAL CAMPERS; Or, The Adventures 
of Henry Burns. 

“ The best boys’ book since ‘ Tom Sawyer.’ ” — San 
Francisco Examiner. 

THE RIVAL CAMPERS AFLOAT; Or, The 

Prize Yacht Viking. 

“ An excellent and exciting story with abundant matter 
of interest to attract healthy minds.” — N. Y. Sun. 

THE RIVAL CAMPERS ASHORE; Or, The 

Mystery of the Mill. 

“ As interesting ashore as when afloat, and they keep 
things pretty well stirred up individually as well as col¬ 
lectively.” — The Interior. 

THE RIVAL CAMPERS AMONG THE OYS¬ 
TER PIRATES; Or, Jack Harvey’s Adventures. 
“ Just the type of book which is most popular with lads 
who are in their early teens.” — The Philadelphia Item. 


RALPH SOMERBY AT PANAMA 

By Francis Raleigh. 

Large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . $1.50 

“ It is full of action, contains many a bit of historical 
information, and is not exaggerated in any way. The 
boys will enjoy reading it immensely.” — Boston Times. 


HAWK: THE YOUNG OSAGE 

By C. H. Robinson. 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . $1.25 

“ Such books are helpful, for they add a vast fund of 
knowledge to a boy’s mind and he is stimulated to engage 
in sports which develop the body and inspire the mind.” 
— New Haven Times Leader. 

A—12 







BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE SANDMAN SERIES 

By William J. Hopkins 
Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per 
volume .$1.50 

THE SANDMAN: His Farm Stories. 

“ Mothers and fathers and kind elder sisters who take 
the little ones to bed and rack their brains for stories will 
find this book a treasure.’’ — Cleveland Leader. 

THE SANDMAN : More Farm Stories. 

“ Children will call for these stories over and over 
again.” — Chicago Evening Post. 

THE SANDMAN : His Ship Stories. 

“ Little ones will understand and delight in the stories 
and their parents will read between the lines and recognize 
the poetic and artistic work of the author.” — Indianap- 

THE SANDMAN: His Sea Stories. 

“Once upon a time there was a man who knew little 
children and the kind of stories they liked, so he wrote 
four books of Sandman’s stories, all about the farm or 
the sea, and the brig Industry, and this book is one of 
them.” — Canadian Congregationalist. 

THE ALYS SERIES 

By Una MacDonald 

Each large 12mo , cloth decorative, illustrated, per 
volume .$1.50 

ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

“ So real it touches the heart-strings.” — Springfield 
Union. 

ALYS IN HAPPYLAND 

“ One cannot read this book without feeling that its 
author intends that we may see and understand and feel 
more deeply, and, perhaps, more joyously.” — New York 
Observer. 

A—13 




THE PAGE COMPANY’S 


THE BOYS’ STORY OF THE 
ARMY SERIES 

By Florence Kimball Russel 

BORN TO THE BLUE 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.25 

“ The story deserves warm commendation and genuine 
popularity.” — Army and Navy Register. 

IN WEST POINT GRAY 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . , . $1.50 

“ The presentment of life in the famous military acad¬ 
emy whence so many heroes have graduated is realistic 
and enjoyable.” — New York Sun. 

FROM CHEVRONS TO SHOULDER- 
STRAPS 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.50 

In this book the reader again follows the experiences 
of Lieutenant Jack Stirling; this time during his junior 
and senior years at West Point. Mrs. Russel’s stories are 
full of reality and every page breathes the spirit and mili¬ 
tary atmosphere of West Point. 

THE BOYS OF THE 
REVOLUTION SERIES 

By John V. Lane 

Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per 
volume .. . $1.50 

MARCHING WITH MORGAN; Or, How Don¬ 
ald Lovell Became a Soldier of the Revolution 
“ The tale is an excellent one for boys, portraying in a 
realistic manner the beginning of the great struggle for 
independence.” — Louisville Evening Post. 

RODNEY, THE RANGER; Or, With Daniel 
Morgan on Trail and Battlefield. 

“ A better book for boys has never left an American 
press.” — Springfield Union. 

A—14 




BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES 

(trade mark) 

Each volume illustrated with six or more full page plates in 
tint. Cloth, i 2 mo, with decorative cover, 
per volume, 60 cents 

LIST OF TITLES 


By Mary Hazelton Wade, Mary F. 
Nixon-Roulet, Blanche McManus, 
Clara V. Winlow, Florence E. 
Mendel and Others 


Our Little African Cousin 
Our Little Alaskan Cousin 
Our Little Arabian Cousin 
Our Little Argentine Cousin 
Our Little Armenian Cousin 
Our Little Australian Cousin 
Our Little Austrian Cousin 
Our Little Belgian Cousin 
Our Little Boer Cousin 
Our Little Bohemian Cousin 
Our Little Brazilian Cousin 
Our Little Bulgarian Cousin 
Our Little Canadian Cousin 
Our Little Chinese Cousin 
Our Little Cuban Cousin 
Our Little Danish Cousin 
Our Little Dutch Cousin 
Our Little Egyptian Cousin 
Our Little English Cousin 
Our Little Eskimo Cousin 
Our Little French Cousin 
Our Little German Cousin 
Our Little Grecian Cousin 
Our Little Hawaiian Cousin 
Our Little Hindu Cousin 
A—15 


Our Little Hungarian Cousin 
Our Little Indian Cousin 
Our Little Irish Cousin 
Our Little Italian Cousin 
Our Little Japanese Cousin 
Our Little Jewish Cousin 
Our Little Korean Cousin 
Our Little Malayan (Brown) 
Cousin 

Our Little Mexican Cousin 
Our Little Norwegian Cousin 
Our Little Panama Cousin 
Our Little Persian Cousin 
Our Little Philippine Cousin 
Our Little Polish Cousin 
Our Little Porto Rican Cousin 
Our Little Portuguese Cousin 
Our Little Russian Cousin 
Our Little Scotch Cousin 
Our Little Servian Cousin 
Our Little Siamese Cousin 
Our Little Spanish Cousin 
Our Little Swedish Cousin 
Our Little Swiss Cousin 
Our Little Turkish Cousin 



THE PAGE COMPANY’S 


THE LITTLE COUSINS OF LONG 
AGO SERIES 

The publishers have concluded that a companion series 
to “ The Little Cousin Series/’ giving the every-day child 
life of ancient times will meet with approval, and like the 
other series will be welcomed by the children as well as 
by their elders. The volumes of this new series are accu¬ 
rate both historically and in the description of every-day 
life of the time, as well as interesting to the child. 

Each small 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . 60c 

OUR LITTLE ROMAN COUSIN OF LONG 
AGO 

Ly Julia Darrow Cowles. 

OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN OF LONG 
AGO 

By Julia Darrow Cowles. 

OUR LITTLE SPARTAN COUSIN OF LONG 
AGO 

By Julia Darrow Cowles. 

THE PHYLLIS SERIES 

By Lenore E. Mulets 
Each 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per 
volume .$1.25 

PHYLLIS’ INSECT STORIES 

PHYLLIS’ FLOWER STORIES 

PHYLLIS’ BIRD STORIES 

PHYLLIS’ STORIES OF LITTLE ANIMALS 

PHYLLIS’ STORIES OF BIG ANIMALS 

PHYLLIS’ TREE STORIES 

PHYLLIS’ STORIES OF LITTLE FISHES 

“ An original idea cleverly carried out. The little girl 
heroine of them all will find friends in the girls of every 
part of the countrv.” — St. Louis Globe-Democrat. 

A—16 


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